KARACHI, July 18: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik has said that there is an acute shortage of policemen in Karachi and recruitments have to be made in the police department to maintain law and order.

Speaking to a group of journalists at the State Guest House on Wednesday, he said that after the 18th amendment to the constitution, the maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the provincial government.

The adviser said that complaints had been received about irregularities in electoral rolls and political parties had also expressed their reservations and an inquiry had been ordered to remove their apprehensions in this regard.

Responding to question, he said that Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif was a former prime minister and as such he was free to go where he would like to. However, he said it was not appropriate for him to meet leaders of banned organisations.

Replying to a question, he said: “The parliament is supreme in every country in the world and we have to extend due respect to the highest elected institution. Lawmaking is the primary responsibility of parliamentarians.”

In reply to another question, the interior adviser said that the government had written a letter to the Qatar government for repatriation of Saif-ur-Rehman in connection with the case of attempting to cut the tongue of Asif Zardari.He also urged to the chief justice to summon Saif-ur-Rehman to know the truth.

When his attention was drawn towards the no-confidence expressed by Arsalan Iftikhar on the Joint Interrogation Team (JIT), Mr Malik said that he should request the NAB for reconstitution of the JIT.

He advised Sharif brothers to “give up politics of cousin mafia”, saying that Pakistan did not need “cousin politics”, but the politics of peace.

He also asked world powers not to intervene in Pakistan’s politics and internal affairs.

“People of Pakistan are well-aware of everything and the real picture of who is popular will emerge in elections.”