Continuation of sit-in proves failure of rulers: Chandio

KARACHI: Sindh Information Adviser Moula Bakhsh Chandio has said that the protest sit-in, which continued in Islamabad for a some time, proved the failure of rulers. He said ad-hocism was being observed rather than adopting a serious approach in resolving the serious issue in the federal capital.

The Sindh chief minister’s Adviser on Information and Archives stated this on Wednesday while talking to newsmen during his visit to the Karachi Press Club where he met the newly-elected office-bearers of the Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoor).

The provincial information adviser said that planning had not been done in advance to peacefully thwart the protest procession. He said a lack of planning had led to an emergency situation, which had affected the entire country.

Chandio said that bad precedents were being set with regard to protest processions and sit-ins being held in Islamabad. He said that Imran Khan had staged a sit-in in the past. "We are pro-democracy people as we want the issue (concerning protesters in Islamabad) should be resolved through talks on an early basis,” said Chandio.

He said at the same time it was obligatory upon the protesters that they should do agitation in favour of their demands in a most peaceful manner as action could be taken against the protestors in case they resorted to illegal means during their protest. He said the protesters should exercise their right of agitation but violence should not occur as it would cause harm to the entire nation. He said the protest sit-in continuing in Karachi was also linked with the sit-in in Islamabad, whose fate would decide the fate of the former. "So the federal govt should resolve the issue at the earliest through dialogue."

Chandio said that earlier in the day the Sindh chief minister had chaired a top-level meeting on the law and order situation where the issue of protest in Karachi was discussed. "There are fears that the unpleasant situation could be exploited by miscreants, criminals, or supporters of terrorists to cause unrest in the city."

He said the threat posed by such anti-social elements resorting to sabotage in the metropolis had become all the more serious following the recent arrest of an undercover agent of Indian intelligence agency in Balochistan.

He said on the one hand, the Rangers and police had been taking action against criminal elements in the province while, on the other hand, law and order situation in Karachi had improved due to the ongoing targeted operation in the city.

He said the recent launching of action against terrorists in Punjab had supported the opinion and demand of PPP and other concerned quarters belonging to the smaller provinces that an operation should also be conducted  in Punjab to eliminate criminal elements and terrorist nurseries.

“Punjab is equally dear to us as we have no differences whatsoever with the people of Punjab. But we have differences with arrogant rulers of the province who pointed fingers at Sindh and other smaller provinces, considering them to be origin of every evil in the country,” said the information adviser.  

Chandio also assured the concerned journalist fraternity of the city that elaborate security arrangements would be made to completely secure the premises of Karachi Press Club, which had come under attack by miscreants a few days ago.

While greeting the newly-elected office-bearers of KUJ (Dastoor), he assured the concerned journalist community that all their genuine issues would be resolved, including the one related to development of a housing scheme in the city for media persons.