SUKKUR, Feb 14: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that effective measures have been taken to stop the targeted killings in Karachi and that the law and order in the city, otherwise, is satisfactory.

Speaking to the media at the Sukkur airport on Thursday, Mr Shah said that action was being taken against criminal elements responsible for the breach of peace in Karachi.

In reply to a question, the chief minister said that consultations between the ruling coalition and other parties on an interim dispensation were under way and as soon as a consensus was evolved, the names of caretaker prime minister would be announced.

Responding to a question regarding prospects of the Pakistan People`s Party in the upcoming general elections, the chief minister said that the party`s performance over the past five year was a guarantee of the PPP retaining the power. `The masses will again vote PPP to power because wehave served them to the best of our abilities without any discrimination and despite meagre resources,` he said.

He said that PPP made a number of achievements while countering conspiracies against the party and its leadership throughout its tenure.

Commenting on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif`s frequent visits to Sindh, Mr Shah said he and other opposition leaders were welcomed to visit the province. However, he added, they should remember that the PML-N could do nothing for the people of Sindh when it was in power twice. Mr Sharif must also tell the people why he escaped abroad leaving behind his electorates to suffer, he said.

The chief minister said that the people of Sindh knew very well why the PML-N chief had come to the people of Sindh and extending his sympathies to them a few months before the general elections.

PPI adds: Speaking to the media after attending areception hosted by Pir Khalid Saeed Jan Sarhandi in Tando Saindad village near Tando Mohammad Khan on Thursday, the chief minister said that the law and order in Sindh, saving Karachi, was improving. `There are some factors behind the lawlessness and targeted killings in Karachi,` he said, adding that a large number of illegal immigrants living in that city were involved in land-grabbing and occupying livelihoods of locals. Terrorism and ethnic strike got a boost during the era of General Pervez Musharraf, he said. `We want democracy to flourish across the country and that is why we are making efforts towards the holding of the general elections on time`, said Mr Shah.

Mr Shah said a record progress had been made by Sindh in the development sectors over the past five years.

In reply to a question, the chief minister said that the issue of a local government system for Sindh was pending before court.