DATE=11/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241947
TITLE=PAK KARACHI / MILITARY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT HAS ENLISTED THE COUNTRY'S ARMY IN
ITS EFFORT TO QUELL VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF SINDH.
UNDER THE MOVE MILITARY COURTS WILL BE SET UP TO TRY SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS. ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS HE HAS INVOKED ARTICLE
245 OF PAKISTAN'S CONSTITUTION, ALLOWING THE ARMY TO BE CALLED IN
TO AID THE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVINCE OF SINDH.
SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN KARACHI, MR. SHARIF SAYS
MILITARY COURTS ARE BEING SET UP AND CASES INVOLVING TERRORISM
AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES WILL IMMEDIATELY BE SHIFTED TO THEM FROM
CIVIL COURTS.
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS THESE MILITARY COURTS WILL DELIVER
JUSTICE "WITHIN DAYS." MR. SHARIF HAS PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED
FRUSTRATION OVER THE INABILITY OF THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION TO
CURB THE VIOLENCE IN KARACHI, THE CAPITAL OF SINDH PROVINCE.
WITH MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE CITY SO FAR THIS YEAR --
MOST OF THEM VICTIMS OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS STRIFE -- MR.
SHARIF LAST MONTH DISMISSED THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND IMPOSED
DIRECT RULE.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE THEN, MANY OF THEM
MEMBERS OF KARACHI'S LARGEST POLITICAL GROUP -- THE M-Q-M. MR.
SHARIF ACCUSES THE M-Q-M OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE VIOLENCE IN
KARACHI.
FOR ITS PART, THE M-Q-M -- A FORMER ALLY OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S
PARTY -- ACCUSES THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF MASTERMINDING THE
VIOLENCE TO UNDERMINE ITS POPULARITY AND JUSTIFY A CRACKDOWN ON
ITS ACTIVISTS.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION INVOKED FRIDAY IS THE MOST RADICAL
MOVE SO FAR IN EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION IN KARACHI. A
PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO END VIOLENCE IN THE CITY, LAUNCHED IN THE
EARLY NINETIES, ALSO INVOLVED THE ARMY -- BUT WITHOUT THE KIND OF
SWEEPING POWERS ENVISAGED IN THE LATEST ACTION.
MR. SHARIF SAYS APPEALS AGAINST RULINGS OF THE MILITARY COURTS
CAN ONLY BE FILED IN SIMILAR COURTS. ANALYSTS SAY THE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION CAN ALSO BE USED TO CURB POLITICAL AND
CIVIL RIGHTS IF THE GOVERNMENT CHOOSES TO DO SO -- A PROSPECT
WHICH THE PRIME MINISTER REFUSED TO COMMENT ON.
MR. SHARIF SAYS EXTREME MEASURES ARE NEEDED BECAUSE THE
TERRORISTS HAVE BECOME TOO POWERFUL FOR THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION
TO DEAL WITH. HE SAYS THE MILITARY WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED IN
THE SAME WAY.
BUT OPPOSITION POLITICIANS WERE QUICK TO CONDEMN THE INVOLVEMENT
OF THE ARMY IN KARACHI. THEY SAY MR. SHARIF'S ACTIONS ARE
DICTATORIAL, AND WILL ONLY WORSEN THE SITUATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/KL
20-Nov-98 10:44 AM EST (1544 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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