950823

Babar hails

Karachiites

for dissociating

from strike

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Naseerullah Khan Babar terming the Wednesday's strike in Karachi as partial said the citizen have rejected the violent attitude of the Altaf Group.

Talking to APP here tonight, he said strike has not been successful, as transport was on the roads and shops were opened in most of the areas. The people are not prepared to lend any support to the terrorist activities, he added.

The Minister said there was now a popular realization that the strikes were hampering the economic activities and these could not be allowed or supported in any manner whatsoever.

The government, he said, had made all possible arrangements to ensure the safety of the people and the law enforcement agencies were quite alert to foil acts of terrorism.

He said it was a high time for the Altaf Group to understand the mood of the people and give up the agitational politics.

Asked about the Govt-Altaf Group talks, he said it was a separate issue. It was the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order. How the terrorists could be given free hand, he asked.

The strikes, he said, were aimed at creating harassment for the general public to disturb the normal life and in a way to achieve nefarious motives. However, the people are bold enough to openly disapprove such a mentality, he said.

ABDULLAH SHAH

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah has congratulated the people of Karachi for dissociating themselves from the strike call given by Altaf Group.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday evening, he said that by dissociating themselves from the strike call the people of Karachi have been able to differentiate between friends and foes clearly.

He further stated that non-acceptance and non-cooperation of people towards strike call is a clear proof that the people are tired of such politics and as such they condemn it. This is also a clear message to the terrorists who are hell bent to disturb peace and that the people will not cooperate with them, but with those who really are concerned about their welfare.

The Chief Minister further stated that it is a matter of great satisfaction that people of Karachi have shown valour by not cooperating with terrorists and went about as usual. People are tired of these strike calls and now they want peace and tranqillity for they are no more ready to tolerate the terrorists.