PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER MUST INTERVENE TO SAVE KARACHI FROM CRIMINALS: ALTAF HUSSAIN

DISMAYED AT THE FAILURE OF THE POLICE, RANGERS AND OTHER LAW-ENFORCING AGENCIES

LONDON: 15^TH MARCH 2012:

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Hussain has expressed grave concerns over the rising incidents of demands of extortions from traders and shopkeepers, kidnappings for ransom, robberies and street crimes in Karachi. He expressed his dismay over the singular failure of the police, rangers and other law-enforcing agencies in controlling the crimes in the city.

Mr Hussain said that, on the one hand, citizens were beleaguered by hardened criminals involved in bank robberies, kidnappings, and street crimes and on the other hand, the business community was being forced to pay huge sums as extortion money. The criminals threaten with murder, kidnapping and grenade attacks if their demands are not fulfilled.

Mr Hussain said that the business community in Karachi had been keeping the police and the administration abreast about the worsening situation, but nothing was being done to improve the failing law and order situation in the city. It seemed that the business community had been left at the total mercy of the criminals.

Mr Hussain said that the gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that the businesses were being closed resulting in dwindling economic activity in the city.

Mr Hussain said that the crimes were on the increase in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and other cities of the province as well.

Mr Hussain said that Karachi was the hub of economic activity in the country. If the economy of the country was to be salved, the president and the prime minister must intervene immediately and rid the citizens of Karachi from the menacing grip of the criminals and extortion mafia.

Mr Hussain expressed sympathies to the business community and said that the MQM would make every effort to improve the situation.

ALTAF HUSSAIN CONDEMNS BLAST IN PISHTA KHARA AREA OF PESHAWAR

LONDON: 15^TH MARCH 2012:

Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has strongly condemned the bomb blast in the Pishta Khara area of Peshawar that resulted in the death of the Superintendent of Police Kalam Shah. He expressed his grief and sorrow over the death of the senior police officer and injuries to many other police personnel.

Mr Hussain said that the wave of terrorism and frequent bomb blasts were aimed at creating chaos and bloodshed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The terrorists playing with the lives of the common people were the enemies of the country and must be dealt with strongly.

Mr Hussain expressed his sympathies to the family members of SP Kalam Shah and prayed for the early recovery and good health of the injured. He stressed upon President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik to take serious notice of bomb blasts in Peshawar. The government should take concrete steps to give protection to the people and move against the elements carrying out terrorist activities in the province with an iron hand.