950809

Govt has no intention

to create another

MQM group: Babar

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Maj. General (Retd) Nasirullah Babar has advised Imran Farooq, Secretary General of Altaf group, to surrender before the authorities.

Talking to journalists before leaving for Islamabad here on Wednesday he said, "Imran Farooq must give up for his own safety and interest".

He said after his statement that the Altaf group leadership had ignored the mother of Imran Farooq, she was called by Ajmal Dehlavi and Altaf Hussain also talked with her on telephone from London.

"This is just a cover up, they want to get rid of Imran Farooq" he reiterated.

He said that Nusrat Nadeem was coming to Katmandu from where he was to pass on orders to terrorists. Javed Langra and Nusrat Javed were used to summon the members of the party for issuing specific directives.

He (Imran Farooq) must have realized the fact that his life is in danger and thus he should surrender for his own safety, he maintained.

When asked about the whereabouts of Imran Farooq, he said that he is in Pakistan.

To a question he made it clear that Government has no intention to create another group of MQM.

"I have always said that a new leadership and group would emerge from the ranks of MQM itself and that leadership will be largely acceptable to the people", he remarked.

He also asked all the wanted persons to surrender in their own interest. He said that cases of those surrendering before the authorities will be given due consideration.

"No criminal could escape arrest, it is just the matter of time", he said adding that now people are coming forward by themselves and are informing the authorities about the hide-outs of hardened criminals, terrorists and also giving informations regarding illegal arms.

He said that Faheem Commando and others were arrested on the informations provided by the people.

To another question he rejected the idea that 100 percent success was achieved.

"Still there are some terrorists left. A couple of them were arrested today while some more will be arrested soon", he said adding that out of 12 and 14 persons arrested from Paposh Nagar and Brigade areas respectively a few are notorious terrorists. They were on the run and trying to hide in the city but eventually they (Terrorists) had to surrender, he said.

The Federal Interior Minister also requested the parents of those not involved in serious crimes to ask their wards to surrender and assured justice to all on case by case method. He, however, rejected general amnesty and said that it did not work in the past.

He said that dialogue between Government and Altaf group must continue as it is the only and long term solution.

He said that following the government's actions and successes by the law enforcing agencies people of Karachi are gaining confidence. Industrial activities have normalized by now, index at stock exchange is registering increase daily and more foreign investment is likely. He said that increased economic activity will help in restoring peace in the city.

Babar said that development activities like repairing of roads have been resumed and civic bodies are undertaking maintenance works due to improved law and order situation in the city.

To a question about arms trafficking he said, government intends to introduce a legislation soon under which illegal arms dealers and carriers will be awarded death penalty, adding that all vehicles found involved in the arms trafficking will be burnt.-APP