Efforts afoot to establish peace in Karachi: Malik

Interior Minister, A. Rehman Malik has said that government and law enforcing agencies are taking serious measures to control criminal activities in Karachi. He said efforts are being made to restore peace in Karachi. He said that several meetings have been held with the law enforcing agencies and stakeholders to improve law and order situation in the mega city.
"We are deeply concerned about the law and order situation in Karachi and government is taking stringent measures against the miscreants without any discrimination," he said while talking to a private television channel. Replying to a question, he said that there are a number of issues, which need to be tackled with collective efforts. He said that Karachi is facing the issues of ethnic and sectarian tensions, extremism and extortion.
He said that a taskforce has been established to deal with the extortion mafia, which is targeting innocent people and traders of Karachi. He furthered that certain elements want to derail peace in the city and destabilise the country but they would not achieve success in their nefarious designs. "We are collecting information against the elements involved in sabotaging peace of Karachi and action will be taken without any discrimination," he added.
Nevertheless, the minister said it is responsibility of all political parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and citizens of Pakistan to come forward to work for welfare and progress of the country. He also urged media to play effective role in campaign against extortion mafia to save people from their criminal activities. He asked people to provide information against the miscreants and anti-social elements so that quick action could be taken against them.
He said the PPP government introduced reforms in Fata to improve socio-economic conditions in the tribal areas. After coming into power, Pakistan Peoples Party government had to face a number of problems. He said the President and Prime Minister are very serious to bring normalcy to Karachi and several meetings have been held to improve the situation without delay.