DATE=11/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242046
TITLE=PAKISTAN KARACHI WEAPONS (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO SOUTH AMERICAN ANTI-TERRORIST EXPERTS ARE IN PAKISTAN
TO ASSIST SECURITY FORCES IN DISARMING ALLEGED TERRORISTS IN THE
VIOLENCE-TORN CITY OF KARACHI. AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: THE TWO EXPERTS FROM COLOMBIA ARRIVED (MONDAY) IN KARACHI
TO HELP AUTHORITIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CURB VIOLENCE AND RID THE
CITY OF WEAPONS.
OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO MEN, WHO ARE FROM THE COLOMBIAN HIGH
COMMISSION FOR PEACE -- DARIO BARBARENE AND EDGAR SUAREZ -- WILL
HOLD MEETINGS WITH POLICE TO PLAN A STRATEGY TO COLLECT AN
ESTIMATED 10-THOUSAND ILLEGAL WEAPONS AND RESTORE PEACE IN A CITY
WHERE ETHNIC VIOLENCE AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS HAVE
CLAIMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN THE PAST DECADE.
SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS IN PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN TRYING, WITHOUT
SUCCESS, TO STEM THE VIOLENCE IN KARACHI, THE LARGEST CITY IN
PAKISTAN AND THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC HUB.
JAMEEL YOUSAF IS THE HEAD OF A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
(CITIZEN POLICE LIAISON COMMITTEE), WHICH WAS FORMED TO IMPROVE
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND CITIZENS OF KARACHI.
ACCORDING TO MR. YOUSAF, COLOMBIA HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT
SUCCESS IN ELIMINATING WEAPONS FROM ITS MAJOR CITIES. IT IS THIS
SUCCESS, HE SAYS, WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO INVITE THE ANTI-TERRORIST
EXPERTS TO PAKISTAN. MR. YOUSAF SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE
GOVERNMENT SEEMS DETERMINED THIS TIME TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM IN
THE CITY.
//YOUSAF ACT//
BECAUSE NOW WE FIND THERE IS A CERTAIN WILL OF THE
GOVERNMENT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN
GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE FOR THE LAST TEN-TWELVE
YEARS WHERE WE TAKE DRASTIC ACTIONS AND THE THINGS COME
UP AND THEY DROP FOR A YEAR AND THEN AGAIN WE GO BACK
INTO A BAD SITUATION. SO NOW OF COURSE WE HAVE TO BRING
IN EXPERIENCES AND DISCUSSIONS (BY OUTSIDERS) WHICH
WOULD HAVE A SUSTAINING EFFECT BOTH IN DE-WEAPONIZING
THE SOCIETY AND ALSO BRINGING LASTING PEACE AND
TRANQUILITY IN THE CITY.
//END ACT//
MR. YOUSAF SAYS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS IN KARACHI
AND ONE CANNOT HOPE TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE PEACE WITHOUT
ELIMINATING THEM.
AT LEAST 800 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN KARACHI THIS YEAR. THE
CONTINUED VIOLENCE PROMPTED PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF LAST WEEK
TO INVOKE A CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION ALLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF MILITARY COURTS IN KARACHI TO TRY ALLEGED TERRORISTS AND OTHER
CRIMINALS.
THE MOVE FOLLOWED THE DISMISSAL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
IMPOSITION OF DIRECT FEDERAL RULE IN THE SOUTHERN SINDH PROVINCE,
OF WHICH KARACHI IS THE CAPITAL.
PAKISTAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE
OPPOSED MR. SHARIF'S MOVE TO SET UP MILITARY COURTS IN KARACHI.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/TMD/KL
23-Nov-98 1:52 PM EST (1852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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