Karachi unrest kills 27; PML-Q wants army operation

Dawn

KARACHI: The death toll in targeted killings and armed attacks in the city has risen to 27 in two days.

However, Karachi Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Fayyaz Leghari told Reuters “at least 17 people died in the past three days by firing by unknown gunmen in several parts of Karachi.”

Unknown assailants gunned down former Naib Nazim of SITE Town, Syed Badshah Khan, in Karachi’s Orangi Town area on Saturday.

Syed Badshah Khan was associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Moreover, the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) submitted adjournment motions in the National Assembly and the Senate regarding the killings.

Saying that the government had failed to protect its citizens, the PML-Q suggested that a military operation was needed to restore peace in Karachi.

Meanwhile, Leghari said police had arrested six people suspected of being involved in the current wave of violence.

Earlier, DawnNews reported that four suspects had been arrested in this regard.

Two of the suspects were arrested by New Town Police. The remaining two suspects were arrested by Orangi Town police.

The death toll in the current wave of targeted killings, starting Monday, has risen to 39. Six people were killed in different incidents of firing on Monday. Moreover, seven people were gunned down on Tuesday and another seven on Wednesday.

The victims of the current killings include a journalist and political activists.

Karachi has a long history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence. But hundreds of targeted killings last year have raised concerns that violence could escalate and create a new crisis for the government in Islamabad.

PML-Q decides not to join government

Daily-Times


ISLAMABAD: The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Wednesday decided that the party would not join the government. PML-Q’s CWC met with the party’s President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in chair. The meeting was attended by Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chaudhry Pervaiz ELahi, SM Zafar, Ghous Bakhsh Mehr, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Kamil Ali Agha, Amir Muqam, Shanker Lal, Nilofer Bakhtiar, Akram Zaki, Akram Masih Gill and Ajmal Wazir.The provincial and divisional leadership from all over the country was also present on the occasion. Shujaat Hussain, while addressing the meeting, said that the party would not join the government. A strategy would be formulated keeping in view the latest political developments. Regarding the murder of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, he urged the government to convene a joint sitting of parliament in order to debate the issue to avoid reoccurrence of such kind of incidents in the future.

PM Gilani wins PML-Q support

Geo


LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani won the support of parliament's third largest party, PML-Q on condition of good governance, Geo News reported on Monday.

Talking to the media men after meeting PML-Q leadership, Prime Minister Gilani said PML-Q has supported me earlier and would not derail the system. 

Prime Minister said that PML-Q has always supported the government on national issues unconditionally, adding that Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain has assured that his party would not be part of any undemocratic step. He further said that PML-Q has assured for supporting him if no-confidence motion was filed.

He said Shujaat has convened party meeting tomorrow to discuss the issues.

PM urged politicians to support democracy and strengthen it.

Gilani said PML-Q has supported unconditionally while remaining in opposition. He said that PML-Q has always supported the government on issues of national interest.

Shujaat Hussain said that PML-Q is not against the Prime Minister, adding that it did not want to blackmail the government. He further said that his party wants to flourish the democracy.

He asked the PM to redress the grievance of masses.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Muttahida Qaumi Movement has only one issue i.e Sindh Home Minsiter Zulfiqr Mirza's statements, while the JUI-F was angry over the sacking of his minister.

Shujaat declares 2011 as election year

Daily Times
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has declared 2011 as the election year, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.

Talking to the media outside the residence of MPA Shabina Riaz Shaikh, Shujaat confessed that talks between his party and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership were in progress. He urged upon all the Muslim Leagues to join hands and to work for the deprived people.

He said all political parties should have a concrete relationship. Commenting on the elections in Punjab, he said that the Sharif brothers could not afford to take part in the elections because they know their position in the province, the channel reported.

PML-N never takes stand against PPP Govt : Sheikh Rasheed

SAMAA
KARACHI: Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Saturday said it seems from the overall situation in the country that the government got caught out at slip. 

Talking to media after a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Functional) chief Pir Pagara at Kingri House here, AML chief said the national scenario is not quite satisfactory, adding, ‘Muslim League (Nawaz) never takes stand against the federal government, as they dread the formation of coalition government between Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) in Punjab.’

It seems Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is not disposed to quit the coalition government at present, he added.