950816

'Force no solution

to Karachi problem'

KARACHI: Chief of Tehrik-i-istiqlal, Air Marshal (Rtd) Asghar Khan has said that use of force by the government will not solve the Karachi problem, rather a negotiated political solution must be found in order to restore peace in this cosmopolitan city.

Talking to newsmen at a lunch hosted by Tehrik leader Niamat Khan at his residence here on Wednesday, he felt that conditions in Karachi were deteriorating gradually. The policy of the government, according to him was disturbing - by arresting two hundred people and later beating them up, the government was antagonizing a lot of people in Karachi, he added. He said that innocent people were being arrested in the city by the police.

He stressed that the deadlock in talks between the government and the MQM was a matter of great concern for the citizens all over the country. He said while the deadlock in negotiations continues since July 24, innocent people were being killed in Karachi daily.

Asghar Khan referred to a report in which Karachi has been declared second disturbed city in the world after Rwanda and maintained that the government was not serious in taking steps to reach a politically negotiated settlement with the MQM and instead was using force only.

He felt that the entire nation wanted to know the progress in the talks. He suggested that four to five neutral observers should sit during the talks and listen to what the two sides were discussing. 'I think this will be helpful for the people all over the country', he added.

Asghar said there was no harm in accepting the name of the MQM for resuming the talks. He was of the view that the government was reluctant to do so as it does not want to annoy people of interior of Sindh, he demanded that justice be done to every citizen in the country without any discrimination.

He said that the government claims to have arrested or killed one hundred terrorists in Karachi but still about 1200 terrorists remain to be apprehended. Use of force, he pointed out, will not solve the Karachi problem.

About quota system, Asghar Khan said the present government was not prepared to abolish it as this would disturb its political base in the interior of Sindh province. He maintained that there was no justification in retaining quota system in Sindh.

He felt that local bodies polls be held in order to give sense of participation to Karachiites in running their affairs. He said that the nominated councillors of KMC do not represent the people of this city.

Answering a question he said that the army has no role in politics of the country and therefore should not interfere in political matters.

To another question he felt that the MNAs elected from Karachi in October 1993 elections due to the boycott by the MQM, should resign so that the genuine representatives of this city, which has one tenth of Pakistan's population sit in the National Assembly and solve problems of their electorates.

The Tehrik chief reiterated his proposal for creating twelve provinces in the country. The existing four provinces should have three provinces each for solving the problems of the people.

He felt that in the present system where Waderas and Zamindars get elected there was no chance for the leadership of the middle class to reach the parliament.

He stressed that since the present ruling party and the opposition were both inefficient, people must strive to change the present system.

To yet another question he said that the federal government was controlling affairs in Karachi and rest of Sindh.

He agreed with a questioner that India was trying to obtain political advantage from the Karachi situation. About Kashmir he said there was popular uprising in Indian held Kashmir and Pakistan was not providing military assistance to the Kashmiris.

He regretted that although floods had caused devastation in Punjab, but the government had provided only Rs 30 lakhs for the affected people. Chief Minister of Punjab had purchased an aircraft worth Rs 19 crores and the government spent Rs 28 crores on organizing a fashion show in United States during the visit of prime minister few months back. All this is sheer waste of funds from national exchequer which we as a nation cannot afford", he added.-PPI