PML-N not to hesitate in setting up military courts in Karachi
Pakistan's former premier and PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif today said he would not hesitate to set up military courts in the country's financial capital Karachi to improve law and order situation if his party came into power.
Sharif said that if situation demanded there was nothing wrong in seeking help from the military and other institutions in a civilian government. "When we were in power we set up military courts under civilian government in Karachi to get rid of the kidnappings and killings. We succeeded in eradicating robbery and kidnappings," he told his party members at a meeting here.
"If it is necessary and if one seeks the army's assistance under a democratic supervision it is completely justified in order to protect citizens and bring peace to the city," Sharif said.
During Sharif's first tenure as Prime Minister in 1992 he ordered the military to carry out a clean up operation in Karachi that was code named "Blue Fox" and lasted for two years under the supervision of the intelligence bureau. Although Sharif had said the operation was held to rid the city of criminals and ethnic bloodshed, the Mutthaida Qaumi Movement claimed thousands of its workers and activists were killed or went missing under the garb of security.
Even during the second tenure of late Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister a clean up operation was held in Karachi under the command of interior minister Nasrullah Babar in which again the MQM claimed it was the main target.
Sharif, whose party is the biggest in opposition in the country, said the most important thing for the people of Pakistan at the moment was security and peace. Last year saw a wave of bloody killings in Karachi with around 300 people killed in target killings, sectarian, ethnic and political violence in July and August itself which eventually forced the center to order a targeted operation to arrest the law breakers and killers.
