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Two torture cells unearthed and 133 arrested as Rangers sweep through Lyari - 22 Aug 2011
Intra-PPP Tensions: Mirza demands ban on Malik’s entry in Sindh
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Karachi operations were bound to offend some: Rehman Malik
Interior minister responds to Zulfiqar Mirza's outburst; says action in Lyari was ordered by PM Gilani.
Rehman Malik addresses the media on Sunday, briefing on the search operation in Karachi. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday that a search operation in Lyari was bound to offend certain people but unbiased action was necessary across the board to end target killing in the metropolis.
Speaking to the media, the minister outlined details of the search operation being conducted in the affected areas, in particular in Lyari. He said that during the search operation a large weapons cache was recovered from Lyari as well as 103 suspects.
His remarks followed shortly after former Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza’s press conference wherein the minister had lashed out against the search operation in Lyari and had termed Rehman Malik a ‘pathological liar’ and a danger to Pakistan.
The Interior Minister said that action in Lyari was being taken on the order of the Prime Minister and Sindh Chief Minister, adding that not taking action in Lyari out of fear of it affecting the party’s vote bank would have been wrong and would have compromised the operation.
Malik said that the Prime Minister and President ordered across the board action, adding that no operation was conducted against the people of Lyari in particular. He added that indiscriminate action was being taken in Karachi based on “real-time intelligence” provided by all intelligence agencies, including, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence (MI) and special branches.
He said he had directed the acting DG Rangers to choose relevant ‘intelligence’ provided and in coordination with the police, take action without his approval but informing him prior to it.
Malik spoke of various areas where search operation were conducted including Katti Pahari, Pak Colony and Shah Faisal Colony. to name a few.
He further said that he wanted to take action in any area on credible information, adding that after he had received information about 18 abductees in Lyari, he launched a ‘silent operation’ in Lyari to rescue them as well as deciding to launch an operation in Lyari too.
The Interior Minister also spoke about his meeting with the business community on Saturday, and their woes related to the bhatta mafia in the city, in areas such as Nazimabad, Golimar, Sher Shah and Lyari.
The interior minister said 103 suspects were arrested on Sunday from Allama Iqbal Colony, Zehri Para, Dhobi Ghat, Usmanabad and Jinnahbad.
Malik reiterated that action will continue against these miscreants until they are completely eliminated and peace prevails in the city.
Updated from Print Edition (below)
Government response: PPP, Rehman Malik try to play it cool
After the press conference by former Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza, the government and the senior party leadership – including Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and the government’s chief spokesperson, Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, said that Mirza’s remarks were his personal opinion – implying that they did not reflect party or government policy.
She also claimed that he had resigned from his government and party positions ‘for personal reasons.’ Awan said that the government’s first priority was restoring the rule of law in Karachi. She contrasted Mirza’s diatribe against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with what she called the government – and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) – policy of engaging with all players.
“Party decisions cannot be influenced by the personal opinion of a single individual,” she noted helpfully.
The federal interior minister, who was the target of much of Mirza’s speech on Sunday, also tried to play down the allegations against him, trying to portray them as part of a brotherly spat.
“Zulfiqar Mirza is a younger brother to me and he can say anything he wants to me when he is angry. I don’t mind him saying those things,” said Malik.
(Read: Mirza demands ban on Malik’s entry in Sindh)
Malik then defended the actions that the government was taking to stem the tide of violence in Karachi. He also said that the entire operation had the backing of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
He said that 103 people have been arrested, of whom 15 people were ethnically Mohajirs.
(With additional reporting from agencies)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2011.
Read more:
targetkilling
, zulfiqarmirza
Reader Comments (21)
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nothing too late
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the allegations are not new… they were made in the past too… if people are serious about karachi’s peace then should take notice of the political parties which are involved in the killings. Govt and people should take these allegations seriously now..Recommend
Speech is silver but silence is gold. Has Malik read this ever in his life? Recommend
We believe you Rehman Malik, please continue with surgical operation in good faith and see how people of Karachi support you. We Appreciate your work and suggest you not to distract by Zulfiqar Mirza:Recommend
Good Job Rehman! People of Karachi were hostage of these layari gangster
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though i abhor him but i have to admit rehman Malik has been the sensible out of all the political leaders involved .He has actually taken baby steps tough which should be commended coming from a state where 1000 killed and thats not a big deal .
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The headlines should have read “Karachi killings were bound to offend some: Rehman Malik
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Malik looks the only sane one out there in this city of chaos
His baby steps are in the right direction tough but too little and too late
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Good Job is this is true.
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Good Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Rehman Malik is proving himself brave Interior Minister. Lyari is a PPP strong hold but that’s where most of the crimes originates in city of Karachi, in US terminology we can call it Lyari is a safe haven for criminals in Karachi.
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The fight is for Karachi’s realty which the drug gangs and qabza groups want. The prospects are extremely bright for these people as long as they have parochial and banal supporters under a feudal unbrela. The whole idea of ‘smash and grab.’
This has been going on for six decades and it is time bhatta, drugs, and qabza gangs were eliminated. It is not impossible. The GOP has to concretize the will to do it and in the process get educated, well paid and well trained LEAs. That is just it, nothing more and nothing less.
Salams for a better Pakistan
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@Tanzeel: Every citizen of Karachi should be happy with the operation that uncovers torture cells etc Recommend
continue the operation and extend it to all other troubled parts of karachi.Dont restrict it to lyari.
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rehman Malik should stop supporting MQM and stand with the innocent people of Karachi and Pakistan.
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what Operation ?? where ???
it was all a set up drama . they already informed the Criminals to hide & after a week they had their drama done just to Shut Up the Public & Media.
they are the ones runing the show of gangsters & bhatta takers ,y on earth will they kill their own .
Food For Thought
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Time has come that this man should be packed and send to MQM secratariat London to stay with his brother.Recommend
I no longer trust any of our politicians ! one is holding the Holy Book , the other professing being a good samaratian! Only Allah can bless us and our country in these dark times!Recommend
This is another prank, joke or drama by the JIT (JOINT INSTIGATION TEAM). Both Messrs. Zardari & Mirza are ‘hand in glove’ to rattle this country until the already weak foundations fall apart champagne bottles start popping.
The ‘Benazir Sympathy’ vote has turned into ‘sabre rattling’ by these two waderas who do not understand the meaning and importance of nationhood. In fact they never did.
Mr. Malik please keep at what you are doing and do it right after, which please go to different parts of Karachi and finish these gangs once and for all. Salams to you sir.
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Rehman Malik, Nice but Not Enough… Should Do it Like when every thing was done in the name of Terrorism for America!
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Presisent Zardari is playing good cop and a bad cop game with zulfiqar Mirza and Rehman Malik to create the elections hype and by doing an operation in Lyari they have made people of Karachi happy and zulfiqar Mirzas Speech has made them even stronger in Sindh
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