Islamabad: Political parties having militant
wings should be banned, former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday, a day after country's Supreme Court
called on parties to sever their links with criminal gangs
responsible for "unimaginable brutalities" in Karachi.
"A new amendment should be invoked immediately Parliament
to control the militant wings of political parties," Sharif
was quoted as saying by Express Tribune newspaper.
He called on the people to take a stand against all
political parties spreading and supporting terrorism.
"I would like to request the people of Pakistan not to
vote for political parties involved in sabotaging peace in the
country and nourishing corruption," he added.
His statement comes after the Supreme Court yesterday
said criminal gangs with political backing were responsible
for "brutalities" in the financial hub of Karachi and directed
authorities to take "strong and decisive action" in any areas
controlled by armed groups.
The apex court, which had taken suo motu notice of a wave
of political and ethnic violence that killed over 1,300 people
in Pakistan's largest city this year, concluded that criminal
gangs were receiving financial support from political parties.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry warned the government
that it must take strong action to stop the violence in
Karachi.
The court's verdict listed several recommendations,
including the setting up of a committee to ensure law
enforcement agencies take indiscriminate action against
criminal gangs linked to ethnically based political parties to
eliminate their stronghold and remove illegal weapons.
PTI
First Published: Friday, October 07, 2011, 23:04