PRESS RELEASE

·                    A delegation of MQM consisting of the following called on the President:

1.    Dr. Farooq Sattar

2.    Dr. Sagheer Ahmed

3.    Mr. Raza Haroon

4.    Mr. Waseem Aftab

5.    Mr. Babar Khan Ghauri

6.    Mr. Adil Siddiqui

7.    Syed Sardar Ahmed

·                    The delegation conveyed their reservations about the Peoples Aman Committees as most of their members are involved in criminal activities like kidnapping, killing and extortion from normal public and business community. Chief Minister Sindh has been advised to formally ban the Peoples Amn Committee and other criminal groups and close all their offices throughout Karachi and other parts of Sindh.

·                    They also requested the President to take notice of growing bad law & order situation in Karachi.

·                    Mr. Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Interior and Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad, Governor Sindh were also present in the meeting.

·                    PPP neither have any connection with these criminal gangs nor will encourage anybody to use the name of PPP.

·                    President after reviewing the situation, constituted a Committee headed by the Chief Minister, Sindh with two ministers from PPP and two ministers from MQM, which will be overseen by the Federal Minister for Interior as coordinator.

·                    The Committee will monitor and evaluate the daily crime situation and will report to the CM Sindh and give their recommendations. The CM Sindh will then direct the law enforcement agencies for action against the culprits without any discrimination accordingly as per the law.

·                    The Committee will meet every week and review the law & order situation and also recommend action against the individual criminals and criminal groups for immediate action in Karachi.

·                    President asked the Chief Minister Sindh to immediately take all steps to cease the illegal activities being done in the name of Peoples Aman Committee’s elements.

·                    The newly constituted Committee will give its recommendations within two weeks for a comprehensive law and order action plan enabling the law enforcers to take action.

·                    It was also resolved that PPP and MQM will continue their cooperation/partnership as per the vision of the President Zardari and Founder and Leader of the MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain for the greater national interest and integrity of Pakistan.

·                    It was felt that both sides agreed to cease immediately any statement against each other to avoid any further tension and also to ensure peace and harmony between the two parties.