ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday defended his statement that Karachi could witness bloodshed in the coming days, claiming that he had credible information about it.

“I stand by my statement. It is based on real-time information,” the minister said in response to a point of order raised by Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) seeking explanation from Mr Malik over his reported statement about possibility of a massive wave of terrorism hitting Karachi in the first week of February.

Mr Malik said he could not absolve himself of his responsibility of sharing information and alerting the people and security agencies of the country about any possible security threats. “If I do not inform the public then I am failing to do my duty,” he added.

On the minister’s request, the house decided to have an in camera session on February 6 on the issue of law and order situation in the country, with particular reference to Mr Malik’s warnings about terrorists’ attacks in Karachi.

Before taking up the floor by the interior minister, the Senate witnessed a lengthy debate on the affairs of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) with members from across the divide calling for a stern action against the company’s managing director for constantly refusing to appear before various standing committees.

During the course of discussion on the attitude of the KESC management, some treasury members also criticised judiciary for, what they called, undermining the parliament’s sovereignty by stopping the Supreme Court registrar from appearing before the Public Accounts Committee and allowing the MD KESC to skip the committees’ meetings.

The most hard-hitting speech came from Federal Minister for Political Affairs Maula Bux Chandio who accused the chief justice of “politicising the judiciary.” Others who talked about the judiciary’s role included Afrasiab Khattak, Haji Adeel, Zahid Khan and Saeed Ghani.

KARACHI SITUATION: The interior minister alleged that three proscribed organistions --- Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jaish-i-Muhammad and Sipah-i-Sihaba — were involved in the target killing incidents in Karachi. He said all those arrested recently in Karachi belonged to these three organisations and none of them had any connections with the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “It is not the TTP as a whole involved in Karachi killings. But, these are the splinter groups and the TTP has been franchised,” he said.

The minister claimed that Ehsanullah Ehsan was not working for the TTP but for someone else. These organisations, he alleged, used to pay Rs80 to 90 thousand to the people for committing crimes.

Mr Malik said that his warnings about the massacre in Quetta and attack on the members of the Bilour family had already proved true. He said when his ministry warned of an attack on the participants of the long march of Dr Tahirul Qadri, Ehsanullah Ehsan withdrew his statement. But, after killing of MQM MPA Manzar Imam, he claimed the responsibility as the TTP spokesperson of TTP.

“I have asked the intelligence agencies to enhance monitoring as well as security. I have asked the agencies that when they get any information, they should apprehend the suspects and take preventive action”, he said.

The minister defended his decision to suspend the mobile phone service in the country whenever they had intelligence about possible terrorist attacks.