KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that if the three political parties— PPP, MQM and ANP— join hands in Karachi, there was no reason why they could not confront and defeat the menace of lawlessness and the targeted killings in the metropolis.

He also directed for setting up a committee comprising of representatives of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awmi National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to have constant liaison with the provincial home minister and the chief minister to remove any misgiving about the operation against the law breakers, extortionists and the target killers in the city.

This he said while chairing a meeting of the allied parties held in Bilawal House here.

Those who were present during the meeting included Dr.Isharat-ul-Ibad Khan, Governor Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, CM Sindh, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghouri, Raza Haroon, Adil Siddiqui, Waseem Aftab, Saghir Ahmed, Senator Shahi Syed, Ajab Khan, Sultan Mandokhel, Rana Gul Afridi, Murad Altaf Advocate and Riaz Gul. Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik, Home Minister Sindh Manzoor Wasan, Agha Siraj Durrani, Murad Ali Shah, Ayaz Soomro, Rafiq Engineer and Spokesperson to the president Senator Farhatullah Babar were also present.

Briefing about the meeting Senator Babar said that the meeting reviewed law and order situation in Karachi and the steps taken so far to restore order in the city.

The governor, chief minister, home minister and the federal interior minister briefed the meeting about the law and order situation in the city.

The president emphasised that it was the shared responsibility of all the political parties to help restore complete order in the metropolis and to bring culprits to books.

The president directed that all steps be taken to protect lives and property of the citizens and strict action be taken against violators of law and order regardless of any consideration.

Moreover, President Zardari also held a separate meeting with the MQM’s delegation.

The delegation on the occasion urged the president to conduct local body elections in the province on immediate basis.

The president said that he wants to contest the next elections with support of the coalition partners.

Speaking to the media representatives after the meeting, MQM leader Raza Haroon said his party has demanded the president to hold the local body elections as soon as possible.

“The president was told that there was a lag in the implementation on the terms of consensus that was reached on the provincial level after the 18th amendment,” the MQM leader said.

“The president has issued orders to the chief minister Sindh in this regard,” he added.