Zardari seeks parties support for Karachi peace

Islamabad, July 9, IRNA – Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Friday sought help of political parties to restore peace in the port city of Karachi, where ethnic and political violence have claimed nearly 90 lives in four days.

Zardari presided over an emergency high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in Karachi, expressing concern over the recent spate of killings, according to presidential spokesman, Farhatullah Babar.

Zardari directed provincial authorities to take urgent steps to restore peace in the city and to bring the culprits to book, regardless of their political affiliations, if any,” Babar added.

According to Babar, Zardari stressed that the government will not allow anyone to take law into their hand and will use all possible means to ensure safety and security of the population.

Officials, present in the meeting, also expressed grief and sympathies with the victims of recent killings and condoled with their families.

Pakistan's Interior Minister, who also present in the meeting, briefed his colleagues on the situation in Karachi and his meeting with the law enforcing agencies, the spokesman told the media.

It was decided during the meeting that judges will be appointed to the vacant posts of anti-terror courts and prosecution branch would be beefed up to provide an effective legal framework for dealing with the criminals and lawless elements, Babar said.

The spokesman said that the meeting decided to take steps to make suitable amendments in law relating to the local government system to make local administration more responsive to the emerging challenges to law and order situations in the city and in the province./end