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| India-Pakistan |
| There is no Taliban in Karachi: Mirza |
| 2008-08-07 |
| There is no Talibanisation in Karachi or the province of Sindh, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) should speak to its coalition partner, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), before making such public statements, Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza said on Wednesday. He was addressing a press conference at the police headquarters. Mirza stressed that the government did not have any evidence of Talibanisation anywhere in Sindh. Religious education was being provided at mosques and seminaries but this could not be called illegal. "There is a difference between Islamisation and Talibanisation," he said. "There is no evidence of Talibanisation in the city as these types of people impose the veil and destroy video shops." The PPP was giving Karachi priority but investors had started leaving the country because of such statements, he said. Mirza rejected the political statements made recently by the MQM, adding that they would harm all the efforts made by the government. The minister said that on Tuesday the MQM gave the impression that the Sindh government "was sleeping". The government had been keeping an eye on everything, even on Umme Hassan's visit to Karachi. But, there was no restriction on her movement, he clarified. Pashtun: Mirza said that operations had been launched against the Pashtuns in North and South Waziristan during the previous government of President Musharraf and the Pashtuns fed up with that had come to Karachi for protection and the government would not take any action against them without evidence. "The Pashtuns are our brothers and can live in Karachi as they wish. They are not involved in any terrorist activity in the city and the government would not act without any evidence," he said. Mirza said culprits would be dealt with regardless of affiliations of party, sect or caste. He said no religious group was behind the seven serial blasts in Karachi. He said it was a conspiracy to ignite a fight between the Pashtuns and Mohajirs and destroy the coalition of the MQM, PPP and ANP. It was clear where this conspiracy originated from but he would not tolerate that, the minister said. "I warn them to stop these activities and I will expose the people who were behind this within a few days." Talking about the claims made by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Mirza replied that they wanted to influence the government. "The government knows very well how to control such claims," he said. "The country is facing an economic crisis because of such statements and press conferences." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 uh, Waziris ARE Pashtuns, Mc. And Baluchistan province while mainly ethnically Baluchi, has a big Pashtun minority in Quetta. Which is the center of the taliban in Baluchistan. As for the Punjabis, well some of them are religious fanatics/jihadis who will accept Pashtun dominance. |
| Posted by: superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-07 09:19 |
| #1 Taliban is an ethnic grouping for the most part. When the Talibs were in power in Afghanistan, they promoted Pashto supremacy and ordered general acceptance of the Pushturon Code of laws. Howver, they also ordered instruction in Arabic, so that the Koran could be read in its original language. So why are there Balochis, Waziris and Punjabis in the Taliban movement? They are not aware of the ethnic supremacy doctrine. They are working for their own subordination to a Pashto master race. Musharaf could exploit that. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-08-07 01:14 |