Pakistan military concerned over Karachi violence

Islamabad, Aug 8: Pakistan's military expressed concerns at the law and order situation in the commercial capital Karachi and its impact on the economy of the country, where weeks of ethnic and political violence have left scores of people dead.

A meeting of the Corps Commanders chaired by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi "expressed concern over the law and order situation in Karachi and its ramifications (and) implications on the national economy".

According to an official statement, the military commanders "expected that the measures recently undertaken by the government would help redress the situation" in Karachi.

Over the past few weeks, clashes between the supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party have resulted in the death of nearly 200 people.

The violence has affected economic activities in Karachi, the country's largest city.

The federal government has organised peace rallies and deployed hundreds of security personnel in troubled areas of Karachi where supporters of political parties have fought gun battles.

Several political parties, including the MQM and ANP, have urged the army to conduct operations in Karachi to end the violence.

The Corps Commanders were briefed about ongoing law enforcement operations in the Kurram and Mohmand tribal region "within the perspective of evolving security dynamic," the statement said.

PTI