ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party leadership discussed on Monday the Supreme Court’s verdict on the law and order situation and target killings in Karachi and decided to ask all political parties, particularly those in the ruling coalition, to expel militant elements from their ranks.
A meeting of PPP leaders, jointly presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Presidency, discussed the political and economic situation, energy crisis, law and order and relations with coalition partners.
“It was decided that all coalition partners will be taken on board in the light of the Supreme Court’s verdict,” PPP leader and Leader of the House in Senate, Nayyar Bokhari, told Dawn after attending the meeting.
The Oct 6 SC judgment cited a report of the Special Branch of police which said the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party and some religious organisations and banned outfits had “militant wings” which were involved in criminal activities and collection of ‘bhatta’ (extortion money) in Karachi.
“All coalition partners are independent to take their own decision, but we have asked them to implement the Supreme Court’s orders relating to militant wings,” Mr Bokhari said. However, he said that some of the court’s orders were actionable and some were not. Some of them are being implemented by the government.
Former law minister Babar Awan said he had briefed the president on “specifically actionable” parts of the judgment.
“Restoration of peace in Karachi is a common cause of all stakeholders and the government is fully determined to do it in furtherance of the Oct 6 SC verdict,” he said.
President Zardari expressed satisfaction that all government agencies concerned were cognisant of the need to implement the SC verdict and that some steps in this respect were being taken.
Prime Minister Gilani briefed the meeting on the economic situation and relations with coalition partners.
According to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, the president informed the participants about his meeting on Saturday with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who had briefed him on the steps being taken by the provincial government to implement the Supreme Court verdict.
Water and Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar updated the meeting on the supply and demand position of electricity and the steps being taken to meet the energy challenge.
He said remedial measures had eased off the power crisis and an increase in generation by 4,500MW had reduced outages. He said that as a long-term measure, the foundation stone of the 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha project would be laid early next week.
“The president emphasised the need to solve the energy problem on a permanent basis and said the power situation in the country must be improved and should not be allowed to become an issue of power politics,” Mr Babar said. Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim briefed the meeting on his recent visit to India and its decision to withdraw objections to the EU-proposed trade concessions for Pakistan.
The law and order situation in Balochistan was also discussed. The meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Textile Industry Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senator Jahangir Badar, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Faryal Talpur, Rukhsana Bangash, Fouzia Wahab, Fouzia Habib and Mehreen Anwar Raja.
Meanwhile, Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan called on President Zardari at the Presidency on Monday and discussed with him the political situation and matters relating the coalition set-up.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.