The direct federal government interference in Karachi affairs including the operation by the Rangers bypassing Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza is not only a violation of provincial autonomy but also meddling in the affairs of the federating units, say two former interior ministers.
Concerned over present state of affairs particularly bypassing of Mirza and Nabeel Gabol's protest resignation, they also called for a political settlement assigning law enforcers a jointly agreed plan for purging the city of saboteurs.
"President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani must stop federal authorities from interfering into Karachi law and order, purely a provincial subject," Aftab Khan Sherpao, who held interior portfolio for three years, told The News. Another former interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat endorsed that the federal government's role in provincial matters is restricted to policy formulation and back up support such as intelligence sharing etc.
Reminding Zardari and Gilani about their public declarations, Sherpao accused them of grossly abusing provincial autonomy if they have allowed the federal interior minister to command the law enforcers. "Why do they claim to be champions of a greater provincial autonomy," he asked.
Sherpao raised serious objections over what he claimed Rehman Malik's meddling into Karachi affairs by frequently visiting the city and issuing directives to the Rangers led LEAs while bypassing Sindh home minister. "We feel that Malik has taken over Karachi."
"Zardari and Gilani, if they are not on-board, must take a note not only confining the federal interior minister to policy making but also letting Qaim Ali Shah government deliver on maintaining law and order." To a query, he said the central government could act only when a province formally requests for federal help.
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