Karachi violence: Body count rises

A Rangers’ personnel keeps watch at a checkpoint on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Five people have been killed in firing incidents in different areas of Karachi during the past 24 hours.

Due to the ongoing violence, rangers have been given police powers to conduct search operations, set up check points and detain and investigate suspects in Karachi.

The killings took place in Hussainabad, Saddar, Malir, Memon Goth and Garden Dhobi Ghat areas. The situation in also tense in Banaras, Mominabad, Pirabad and SITE. Two people have been injured in firing at Hussainabad, while two other killed in Nanakwara area of Saddar.

The Sadar SP told Express 24/7 that the dead belonged to a political party.

Updated from the print edition (below).

Confusion prevailed after authorities talked about slapping a ‘semi-curfew’ ahead of launching search operations in volatile areas of Karachi to curb rising violence. However, no timeframe was given for any police action.

But as restrictions on pillion riding were re-imposed in the city on Sunday, there were expectations that the police operation would commence soon after.

And yet, the steps had no effect on the killings in the city as six more people are said to have fallen prey to targeted killings on the fourth consecutive day of violence. This brings the death toll during the same period to 33.

The targeted killings, which have continued in the wake of failed political dialogue, speak volumes about government strategy and the performance of law-enforcement agencies.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik first coined the term ‘semi-curfew’ at Karachi airport before leaving for Islamabad.  He later clarified that a “curfew-like” situation “would be enforced in  sensitive parts of the city” to curb violence.

The clarification was necessitated after security personnel were confused over the usage of the term “curfew” and panic broke out in violence-hit areas.

Authorities have decided to increase police and Ranger presence in violence-prone areas. This was decided at a meeting held by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, which was attended by the federal interior minister.

According to the strategy, aerial surveillance would be intensified and helicopters would be used to airdrop police commandos to contain armed conflicts.

Law-enforcement agencies have also been asked to take action against users of stolen or snatched cellular phones.

People living in affected areas have been asked to keep their CNICs with them and they will only be allowed to go about their work after proper scrutiny.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also tasked to keep an eye on possible movement of suspicious elements at Karachi airport to stop them from escaping from the city.

At Karachi airport, Rehman Malik appreciated the security agencies’ performance and said that recent arrests would help reduce violence in the city.

“The government will not allow anyone to disrupt Karachi’s peace. Motives behind these killings are being evaluated,” Malik said. “A third force, which wants to start a confrontation between coalition partners, is involved in (these) shootings. Some elements are trying to hatch a conspiracy to trigger a clash between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), but they will not succeed.”

Commenting on Rehman Malik’s assertions about ‘semi curfew’, adviser to the Sindh chief minister Waqar Mehdi, told The Express Tribune that restriction would only be imposed in areas where a crackdown against criminal elements is conducted. “Restrictions will be applicable in sensitive areas and will be similar to those encountered during curfew,” Mehdi said.

During the operation, he said no one would be allowed outside their homes and the entire area would be sealed during the duration of the operation, adding that vehicles would not be allowed on roads and shops would be shut.

Local residents, he said, would only be allowed into the area or leave their homes in case of an emergency if their CNICs check out.

Lists of wanted assassins and criminals, compiled on the basis of intelligence reports, have been handed over to the police and Rangers officials, who “will decide the timing of the operation”.

Stressing the need for maintaining the element of surprise in conducting the crackdown, he said: “It was decided that the operation will be conducted in a lightening-like manner. No timeframe will be announced. Maybe it will start from Sunday night, maybe later.”

He said a crackdown would be carried in Orangi Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Pehalwan Goth, Rabia City, Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi and some parts of Korangi, Landhi and Malir.

Panic again prevailed when some news channel aired news about the ban on pillion riding in Karachi between 9pm and 5am. However, the Sindh government was not aware of any such decision.

Meanwhile, an MQM political worker, Kashif, and a sympathiser, Jaffer, were shot dead on the Chand Bibi Road in the limits of the Risala police station.

Both of them were shot dead outside their homes.

A bullet-riddled body of a teenage boy named Ghulam Murtaza, 17, was found in Memon Goth police precincts.

A middle-aged social worker named Mohammad Ahmed was killed and another Ilyas was injured in firing on their social welfare office in Azizabad.

The body of a young man bearing torture marks was found from Dhobi Ghat in the remits of Pak Colony police station. Separately, an ANP worker named Mohammad Ajmal, who was wounded on Saturday in Al Falah police limits, succumbed to his injuries at Jinnah hospital on Sunday.

Separately, security forces said that they have captured an alleged killer from the Saddar area.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2011.