The federal government provided Rs70 million as compensation to affected families who suffered during Operation Clean-Up in 1992 launched by the then government against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Addressing the gathering, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad said that the compensation was proof that the federal and provincial governments realised the problems and heart-burning of the affected families and this was an acknowledgement that the action of the regime of the day was a mistake.

The governor said that the ceremony was in fact recognition by the government for the sacrifices of the affected families, adding that it was an honour for those who suffered due to decisions taken in this Governor’s House 12 years ago.

He also thanked President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, the then Corps Commander, Karachi, Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, and Gen Ahsan Salim Hayat, IGP Sindh, former and present Directors-General Rangers, for helping to the Sindh government provide compensation to affected people.

The Governor said that he would specially thank the Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain who motivated not only him but the whole government for the compensation to affected families of the former No-Go areas.

Appreciating the patience and tolerance of the affected families, Governor Ebad said that such a minor relief could not make up for the irreparable losses suffered by the affected and could not enable them to relive the past 12 years, yet it was a recognition of their problems and admission of the mistake by the government of the day.

Ebad said that government knew that these families faced not only financial crises but extreme anguish too. He said that the present government was committed to the removal of No-Go areas. He said that the government was also committed to the rehabilitation of the affected families and this promise was fulfilled with the help of the federal and provincial government.

The Governor’s House lawns echoed with the refrain of the slogan, "Jeay Altaf Hussain" when the governor said that Altaf Hussain played an important role in providing compensation to the affected families of the No-Go areas.

The Governor said that the government was also committed to the total restoration of peace in Sindh and improving the law and order situation and hoped that the people would cooperate in achieving the goal.

He said that the government was also consolidating development projects in the former No-Go areas. The Governor said that Karachi needed special funds and attention for the development as this city was neglected in the previous years and informed the participants that President Pervez Musharraf had announced A Rs29 billion Karachi development package.

He said that Karachi was a mini-Pakistan and the economic, cultural, and social hub of the country and the people coming from all over the country were living in this mega city. He said that the government was providing protection and shelter to the citizens without any discrimination.

According to officials, 1311 affected families living in Landhi, Korangi, Lines Area, Liaquatabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Qasba Colony, Malir, Orangi Town and others areas had applied for compensations and they were divided into three categories. The officials said that hardship cases were also included in the list as a special feature.

Special seating arrangements were made for the affected families and governor went around distributing the cheques among the families and inquired into their problems. He assured the government’s resolve to solve their problems.

The Chief Secretary Aslam Sanjarani, Senior Minister Sardar Ahmed, IGP, Sindh, Director-General, Rangers (Sindh), secretaries, federal and provincial ministers and MNAs, MPAs and Senators belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement attended the function.

Daily Dawn
8, October 2004

KARACHI, Oct 7: Sindh and federal governments are committed to elimination of all 'no-go' areas in the city and the province.

This was stated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, while speaking at a ceremony held at the Governor's House on Thursday for distribution of cheques among the no-go areas affectees in Karachi.

An amount of Rs70 million was distributed among 1,311 affected families in the areas like Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Qasba, Aligarh, Liaquatabad and other localities.

The affected families were presented cheques of Rs45,000, Rs75,000 and Rs100,000, according to the severity of their sufferings, by the governor, ministers, MNAs and MPAs.

Cheques of Rs45,000 each were distributed among 90 affected families, of Rs50,000 among 1,036 families, for Rs75,000 among 173 families, while 12 families were given Rs100,000 cheques each.

The governor said the presence of 1,311 families or their representatives was a testimony to the fact that they were subjected to injustices, oppression and excesses. "It is spirit of your tolerance that truth finally emerged victorious," the governor said, addressing the affected families.

He said that the families had suffered economically as well as socially over a period of 10 to 12 years, adding that those who were 10 or 12 years of age at that time, today had fully grown, and they all suffered on account of their education and faced many other problems also.

But despite all this, he observed, they demonstrated an exemplary spirit of endurance and tolerance in face of oppression and persecution. Dr Ibad said that before coming into power we had declared that not only Karachi, but whole of Sindh would be cleared of no-go areas and everyone would be free to move about any where without any restriction.

He said that in achieving the objective of eliminating these areas we were thankful to President Gen Musharraf, who issued an order to redress the pain and agony of the affected people and his order was implemented by the Sindh government.

He also thanked the then prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the then Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, DG Rangers Maj Gen Satti and the present corps commander and present DG Rangers, Principal Secretary Brig Akhtar Zamin, former and present home ministers and secretaries.

The governor commended IGP Kamal Shah, who while realizing the pain and agony of the sufferers, helped resolve the problem. He said the amount being distributed today, couldn't compensate for what the families suffered.

This was only an acknowledgement that people at the Centre and the province felt their pain and sufferings and that whatever had happened at that time was wrong and the present leadership wanted to rectify the same, he added. -APP