Terrorists can't take over Karachi, as they had Swat and Waziristan: Shahi Syed

Karachi, Oct 31(ANI): Pakistan's Awami National Party Sindh President Shahi Syed has said that there is no chance of "terrorists" or the Taliban taking over Karachi, the way they have done in Swat and the two Waziristan agencies.

Addressing the media at the Karachi Press Club, Syed said that it would not be easy for the militants to find dens in Karachi due to its multi-ethnic environment and locked borders.

The Taliban have unleashed a spree of violence inside the country over the past year, attempting to take over the Swat Valley region before being ousted by the Pakistan army.

In recent weeks, the Taliban, aided by other militants, have targeted military and Government installations in suicide bombings aimed at forcing the Government to back off from its recent push into South Waziristan, the border area where many militants are based.

The total of Al-Qaida militants in Pakistan is difficult to pin down, but recent U.S. government estimates have indicated that it is in the low hundreds, while Taliban is in the thousands.

Syed further said that people who share the ideology of Taliban could be found among all ethnic groups living in Karachi and warned against labelling a particular community living in the city as Talibani.

"Don't forcefully push the Pukhtoon community in the city towards Talibanisation. Pukhtoons serve as labourers in Sindh. We secure your bungalows, businesses and polish your shoes. All that we want in return is respect," The Daily Times quoted Syed, as saying. (ANI)