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.—Reuters/File
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NOWSHERA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan urged the federal and Sindh governments on Wednesday to take immediate action on the findings of a joint investigation team (JIT) regarding Karachi’s Baldia Town factory fire that left over 250 people dead in 2012.
Talking to reporters after attending a training session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first women Elite Force trainees at the Joint Police Training College here, he said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s apology over his recent remarks was a positive development but there could be no apology for the Baldia Town incident.
Also read: Imran accuses Altaf of terrorising Karachi
“Our demand is that the federal and provincial governments should act forthwith on the findings of the report.”
Mr Khan said armed groups should not be allowed to operate in the country and prisoners should not be released because of political affiliation.
He said it was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s responsibility to ensure elimination of armed wings of political and religious parties.
Replying to a question, he said it was also the responsibility of the prime minister to take up with his British counterpart David Cameron the issue of making hate speeches and instigating people of Pakistan by Mr Hussain from the United Kingdom.
PTI chief terms Altaf Hussain’s apology ‘a positive development’
“I have visited England and reached the conclusion that only the government can take up the issue with the UK on the official level.
“The MQM was in alliance with then president Gen Pervez Musharaf’s regime and later with the former PPP government and both were not interested in raising the issue with the UK government,” he said.
He said the prime minister should take up the matter if he was sincere with the people of the country.
Mr Khan criticised Mr Hussain for using derogatory remarks against PTI’s women workers, including information secretary Shireen Mazari, over their participation in sit-ins in Islamabad. He said the world should also act against terrorists killing foreigners or Pakistanis.
Regarding the coming Senate elections, he said the PTI favoured an open ballot procedure to reduce chances of corruption.
Mr Khan called upon all parties to support direct elections to the Senate to overcome horse-trading.
He said there were greater chances of purchasing votes in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because of the smaller number of voters.
The PTI chief praised the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and said they were facing serious challenges because of growing terrorist activities in the province. He said the KP government had enhanced the capacity of police through its own resources because the centre had not released funds.
The federal government had promised to provide funds to the provinces after launching the military operation, he said. He assured the police that their allowances would be increased immediately and special incentives would be given to them.
