950808

Benazir calls

on President:

Karachi

situation reviewed

SIKANDER HAYAT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto called on President Farooq Leghari on Tuesday and briefed him on the latest developments regarding law and order situation in Karachi.

At the meeting, held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr at the direction of the President, government-MQM (Altaf) talks came under discussion, which now stand deadlocked for over 10 days. The President is believed to have conveyed his concern over the continuing deadlock and underscored the need for early resumption of the talks.

The Prime Minister informed the President of the nature of snags that have hit the talks, and expressed the hope that the government's strategy to fight out terrorists would pave the way for the talks.

Benazir, who herself made a 'triumphant' visit to Gulbahar, which has been brought under the government writ through a major police action, struck an optimistic note, telling the President that "carrot and stick policy" would pay. But she was not certain how much time it would take for complete normalisation to obtain in Karachi.

Farooq Leghari, however, is said to have emphasised that while the operation against the terrorists continues the government should keep its channels of communication with the MQM leadership open so that the Movement is not pushed to a point of no-return.

There was incisive exchange of views between the two top leaders on the impact of continuing turmoil in Karachi on important, issues of national security and the economic development, particularly in the context of stoppage of foreign investment in the city.

They also agreed that early resolution of the Karachi imbriglio is vital to keeping alive scores of memorandas of understanding signed by the present government with foreign investors. They were reportedly of the unanimous opinion that strife in Karachi is having its negative fallout on all major sectors of national economy.

After having been briefed by the prime minister, Farooq Leghari will be meeting the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Abdul Waheed during the current week. The likely venue of the meeting will be the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, where some corps commander and other senior military officers are also expected to be present.

Pakistan armed forces have been keenly watching the situation in Karachi, as it has a clear, well-defined perspective that India is the net beneficiary of continuing turmoil and chaos in the Sindh metropolis.

Leghari and Benazir also discussed the flood situation and agreed that relief operations must be made more effective so that the Opposition does not get this handle to beat the government during the National Assembly session that opens on August 13.