KARACHI: PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has asked the Sindh government to consult political forces on measures being taken to improve the law and order situation and check incidents of terrorism in Karachi and other parts of the province.

During a meeting with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the party’s provincial women wing chief MNA Faryal Talpur, former interior minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Prisons Minister Manzoor Wasan, he asked the government to accord priority to solving people’s problems and consult all parties about the local bodies system and its coming elections.

According to sources, the overall situation in the country with particular reference to Sindh, the ongoing targeted operation against criminals in Karachi and organisational matters were discussed at the meeting held at Bilawal House.

The chief minister informed the former president about measures being taken to improve law and order in Karachi.

Mr Zardari said the country continued to face the challenges of extremism and terrorism that could only be overcome by uniting all political forces and sections of the society.

He asked the chief minister to take concerted and coordinated measures to protect people in Karachi and solve their problems.

He said polio workers should be provided complete protection and the vaccination campaign should be carried on under a comprehensive strategy.

He said the PPP should improve its working relationship with all other parties.

Former interior minister Malik told reporters after the meeting that Mr Zardari had given him the task to hold talks with other political parties, including the MQM, in order to improve the law and order situation and help the provincial government in this regard.

He said he had briefed the former president about contacts between the PPP and MQM.

Answering a question, he said the solution lay not in holding talks with the Taliban but launching an operation against them.

“A proxy war is going on in the region and its main target is Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Malik said the policy of reconciliation had been initiated to strengthen democracy and he would visit London again to hold talks with MQM chief Altaf Hussain if the need arose.