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The minister further said that besides the government's 21-point charter of demands, the 18-points given by the MQM during the earlier round of talks were also discussed on a preliminary basis.

"We asked the MQM side to give opinion on steps for restoring peace in Karachi. We will also give our proposals in this respect when the dialogue resume at Sindh Governor House, Karachi on September 3 at 4 p.m.," he disclosed.

Answering another question, he said that politics and crime has to be separated. He pointed out that if there was no terrorism and violence in Karachi, personnel of rangers will remain on watch and vigilance duty." But if there are acts of terrorism and violence in the city, the rangers will discharge their responsibilities."

N.D. Khan said he had sought clarification from the MQM delegation at today's talks regarding owning by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on August 3 the four renowned terrorists. Farooq Dada, Ghaffar Dada, Hanif Turk and Javed Michael who were involved in various cases of murder, attempt to sniper firing, kidnapping, arson, dacoity, damage to public and private properties, subversion and terrorism. All the four terrorists were killed on August 2, in an encounter with police in the vicinity of Airport Police Station, Karachi.

According to the government's clarification, Farooq Dada was responsible for killing an army Captain Aamer, SHO of Baldia Police Station Choudhary Sadiq, along with three policemen, and Director Customs Saleem Malik, Ghaffar Dada was an accomplice in the aforesaid acts. Hanif Turk was involved in attack on Major Javed of Pakistan Army while Javed Michael in murder of four rangers, killing a police constable and attack on DSP Police Chaudhry Mukhtar which resuled in death of his gunman.

Another clarification sought from the MQM was about a statement of Altaf Hussain issued after two days strike last week which reflects that "Altaf Hussain issued a call for violence and that he held out a threat for escalated violence and acts of terrorism in future. Such a statement, when negotiations are afoot, is uncalled for. The MQM (Altaf Group) should clarify the same," he further said.

The government's side at the negotiations include two members of National Assembly Afaq Shahid and Zuhair Akram Nadeem. The MQM team comprised Shoaib Bukhari, Tariq Javed, Qazi Khalid Ali and Shaikh Liaquat Hussain.-PPI