KARACHI: Expressing concern over the alarming rise in violence in the city, which has claimed over 35 lives in the past few days, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called for steps to curb the lawlessness and stern action against the culprits.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the HRCP said that at a time when the nation’s attention was focused on the army-led counter-insurgency operation in the northern areas and the massive humanitarian crisis it had spawned, the breakdown of law and order in the city was a matter of grave concern.

It said that apparently old rivalries and some new developments were involved in the city’s targeted killings, which claimed lives of over 35 political activists in the first week of June, and the killers were not arrested.

The HRCP said: “The situation demands a combined effort on part of all political and ethnic, linguistic factions besides sincere involvement of the political as well as administrative arms of the government to protect and restore peace and social harmony in the city.”

Source: Dawn

Date:6/10/2009