After recovering from the surprise, Ghauri smilingly got up and shook hand with Hoti when the latter came towards his seat to negate the impression that his party is a hurdle in across the board action against militant groups in the city. He stated that even if the entire army was deployed for deweaponisation of Karachi it could not carry out the gigantic task only in half of the city in 10 years.
"The best way to resolve the issue is to sit together and show sincerity and honesty to correct the situation," he added. The MQM senator had earlier said that his party has been calling for deweaponisation of the city and invite all the political parties particularly ANP to join hands with them to eradicate the menace of terrorism in Karachi.
"We've been calling for the last three and half years to deweaponise Karachi as we need peace [and] I invite ANP to come forward, let's fight against those busy in disturbing the peace of the city," he added. "The situation will never change if we continued criticism for the sake of criticism instead of taking action against the elements hell-bent to spoil the peace of the city...so let's take action together," said Ghauri.
He said that it was a good omen that ANP is showing concern about Karachi situation. "Sectarianism must be given an end...we should realise that an international conspiracy is being hatched to divide us like Arabs," he maintained.
The parliamentarians called for deweaponistion throughout the country and it should not be Karachi-specific, which what they felt could only be possible if there is sincerity, honesty and commitment of all the political parties. Referring to a recent briefing by DG Rangers Major General Rizwan Akhtar over law and order situation in Karachi, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that political parties were responsible for targeted killings and other criminal activities in the mega city.
"Without abolishing these militant wings you cannot bring peace in Karachi," he stated. He quoted the DG Rangers as saying that in one year as many as 8500 criminals were arrested and were subsequently released on the pressure of main political parties. Senator from Balochistan Mir Hasil Bezinjo blamed the major political parties, saying the militant groups behind Karachi unrest enjoy political support. He held former military dictator General Ziaul Haq responsible for supplying of weapons to educational institutions through Jamaat-e- Islami.
He said that present government did not seem to be serious in resolving the deteriorating security situation in Karachi as it failed to bring any change during its four and half years tenure and what else it can do in the remaining three months. PML-N lawmaker Mushahidullah held the coalition partners - PPP, MQM, ANP - responsible for the worsening law and order situation in Karachi. "The three main coalition partners have stake in Karachi and they themselves responsible for this mess. They failed to take any action during their stay in power," he noted.