Karachi: President did not need mandate

IT was rather surprising to hear after President Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting on Wednesday with all those who matter in Sindh Government that the coalition partners have authorized the President to hold negotiations with all political forces to bring peace and normalcy to Karachi and take appropriate administrative measures to restore law and order there. The meeting reiterated the government’s resolve to restore peace at all costs and to bring the culprits to justice regardless of their affiliations, if any.

We wonder as to how and why the worthy President is required to take such a mandate and that too from his own political party of which he is the Co-Chairperson and all in all. In fact, the mandate of the President emanates from the Constitution and the oath he has taken under it that requires of him to discharge his duties, and perform his functions, honestly, to the best of his ability, faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and “always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Pakistan”. The President is not only symbol of the Federation but also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and therefore, duty bound to take steps to safeguard interests of the country and people. In fact, the President has already been holding negotiations with present and erstwhile coalition partners and other political parties as well on different issues and nothing barred him from undertaking consultations on how best to address the Karachi situation that is going out of control. We believe that the Government has already wasted enough of the precious time in a state of indecision or lack of commitment to tackle the problem in right earnest. Time has passed for rhetoric as mere statements and tall claim would not work until and unless a coordinated approach, in consultation with all stakeholders, is adopted to sort out things and restore the order in the city where dozens of people are losing their lives in target killings. We hope that the President would himself rush to Karachi to take charge of the situation himself besides restraining some foul mouths within his own party from spoiling the atmosphere further.