There is no need for an army operation in Karachi and the Rangers are doing a good job, said Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday.
Express News reported that Kayani had made available army units whcih were ready to be deployed in Karachi, if the civil government requests their deployment, as per the constitution.
He said the army cannot forcibly take control on its own.
Syed Khursheed Shah, the central leader of Pakistan Peoples Party and the federal minister for religious affairs had earlier said that an operation in Karachi was on the cards to bring normalcy to the violence plagued megalopolis.
Shah had claimed that all stakeholders were taken on board in this regard, adding that all political parties including MQM and ANP support such an action in this city.
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As usual some elements of media have played their role of creating misunderstanding & followed the agenda of defaming Army. Army Chief in his statement said "Rangers is doing good job in Karachi hence Army operation is not required, Army cannot get in at its own however if civil Govt wants to have an operation Army can be called in as per constitution' Media has reported his statement as "Army operation not required in Karachi" This is how the words are mindset & misreporting is done. The essence of his whole statement is different than it is reported in the media. His whole statement is quite balance & within ambit of his duty. Here I will mention one thing that ISPR should have responded to such misreporting. They remained quite as usual. Personally I feel Army should not be called for any operation in Karachi, as it is already engaged in mega operations at fata, manning the borders/LOC, Siachin. Have mercy on them & do not try to week them, in front of cunning enemies & learn something from Iranian president's interview.
@Kanwal: Just to remind you that before the operation in 90's situation of karachi was same like today only difference is that there was no media .People were picked for ransom ,bori band laash culture started ,university buses were hijacked & army personnel were also targeted, there were no existence of taliban at that time.Stop using the word Taliban as a scapegoat !!! Hence Ms.Kanwal need of the hour is start of Nasirullah Babar like operation for us (Karachites) to survive.
COAS is right that no need of army operation if rangers can deliver like it did in 90's.
@gp65: I thoiught we said our prayers in the Mosques.A dignified way to do so..
@kanwal: He is paid to Defend the Border's of the Country. Pull you out when there are Calamities like Earthquakes & Floods.
@Kanwal: You seem to have a soft corner for them. If there Clergy do not listen to logic & common sense then lot of innocent lives will be wasted. Whether it is a Shia or a Sunni a human Life is sacred. A Security Drag Net of such a vast proportion has not ever been laid out for the President of Pakistan.
And as for the army operation, thats gonna make it risky for the government to complete its FIVE YEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME :D I mean that's more important than safeguarding Karachi, isn't it? Also, there might be an order from up there to kayani to let all this go on, no need for intervening or else, blocking of funds/direct attack/etc
@Kanwal:
While your passive aggressive attitude towards the armed forces is commendable, the fact of the matter is compared to their civilian counterparts they have always been a better choice for the country. At the moment there is a civilian government, exactly what have they done better in the last 4 years? You compare the situation vis a vis Musharaff's government and you'll see the difference.
Someone needs to write a book: Army not Masters ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ will be a best seller.
CAOS Kayani is right, if army gets involved in karachi operation, who will look after DHA developments, maintaining shadi halls and golf courses, running bakeries, running NLC etc.
My sympathies for the bereaved and hopeGOd gives them the strength to cope with the loss.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): "he answer is to call off the processions. "
Well, there have been attacks on schools also - so stop all kids from going to school? What kind of logic is this?
"There are other priorities." What can be a bigger priority than protecting the life of innocent citizens who are doing nothing other than worshipping?
Why single out Karachi, the army is not even conducting operations elsewhere in the country where Taliban are most active and killing innocent civilians.
@Sanity Please: The Indians have more sense than to solve Pakistan's problems!
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd) Glad to see you are not working anymore, considering the kind of logics you come up with. Shias are one of the probably only two or three groups in this country who have a huge street power and presence. Afraid of them, are we? By the way, if there was so much of the country's resources being used to provide security to these processions, you would nt expect them to be blasted everyday. The point is there is NO active work done by our rulers, which includes the dictators from your ex-employers too. Wake up and smell the coffee.
@ AB: there is no such thing called Talibaan anymore. True talibaan has been killed a long ago at afghan war times.As Malcom X said "If you are not careful the news paper/ media will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing " so plz be careful our generation shdn't be a slave of Media anymore.
All Zaid Hamids and Hamid Guls - listen to Nazam Sethi's "Aapas ki baat" aired yesterday on Geo TV, that is on 21st Nov 2012.
This will be a good lesson for when you all will come knocking on our doors seeking refuge. Right now you consider yourselves to be Napoleans, Rommels and Pattons. Have a reality check too.
I appreciate ur views..
Not the Army's job. The answer is to call off the processions. Loss of innocent lives & Collatteral damage. The entire Govt machinery employed. Millions of Rupees spent. Life has come to a standstill for the other 95% citizens. There are other priorities.
What do you expect from an over-age Army Chief being guarantor of NRO?? Unprecedented extension of 5 years speaks loyalty to "master", not to the country !
Why do we need army when they cannot protect us from monsters created by them & also enemies created by them to justify their existence?
@khan: "@Jat: and an extremely capable government we have at the helm, yes?"
That is for the people of Pakistan to decide...
The General is right that army need not carry out any operations in Karachi and elsewhere as well since army has already stopped conducting any operations even in the areas where TTP is active and killing innocent people. The intelligence agencies are relocating Taliban, LeT, LeJ, SS in Karachi and other big cities for maintenance of law and order so that military can disengage itself from the internal security duties and move to international border to meet the external threat from India and also manage business houses which were under neglect.
@shah He is paid to 1. Protect this country using 2. a set of rules and regulations 3. assigned to him by the civilian mandate
Thats the way almost every army personnel paid all over the world, including the poor and undeveloped countires. . Why is he an exception? Actually he has the biggest responsibility in the whole armed forces bcoz he is the head. If a dog dies on their watch, the muslim caliphs held themselves responsible. Its a whole community being persecuted. He better start working hard.
@hello1 Read history. Democracies take time to get better and better over time. They should be allowed to do so in pakistan so the people could check who is working and who is nt. Role of army is not to enginner democracy or public mandate unless of course they are part of the same mindset and objectives as the corrupt civilians you are talking about. They are hand in hand with your dear " civilised military". Lol. @khan We have seen in the Zia era and Musharraf era how a country can go to dogs bcos of "efficient" army. Lets try inefficient civilians for a couple of decades, shall we?
The SC bench headed by CJ Iftikhar Chaudry in Asghar Khan case has given ruling, that the COAS and all others must refuse an order of the President/ any other if the order is considerd by them as against the constitution.The COAS has given a clear statement that the government can ask for deployment of army units in Karachi as per the constitution, for which they are ready and already made avalable.Seemingly,there is nothing wrong in the statement.
@SaneVoice:
The nations pays him his salary the save way some one pays some one's salary...YOU DONT OWN THEM....he is not ur private slave...
@Jibran:
bla bla...i guess you have no idea about international policies or situation of Pakistan...you just want to have perfect solution on the table next day. Funny...
@Jat: and an extremely capable government we have at the helm, yes?
Oh yeah, that's why 6000+ are killed in 4 years. Police and Rangers can never take action against the criminals in Karachi because political parties of Karachi pressurize them or maybe the criminals are a part of the Sindh Government. Only men like General Naseerullah Babar can maintain the law and order situation in Karachi. Just shoot terrorists on sight. No mercy.
Army should remain on borders. It is the job of police and related people to solve this problem. The same should be happening in other places like Baluchistan .
@Jat:
Dear It is the responsibility......... and in every country generals have the same responsibility... For your kind information wake Up
Unfortunately there is more to that than meets the eye. There is NOT only the issue of Talibanization in Karachi. Possibly more people here are murdered here in Karachi by the likes of People's Aman Committee and the criminal gangs operating out of Lyari than the Talibans that have infiltrated Karachi. Unfortunately the current COAS seem to be in cahoots with the current political leadership. We need a daring COAS, someone like Musharaff, to clean out the mess we are in and not a COAS who is a toothless tiger. And till there is no across the board military operation in Karachi, this city will continue to burn, till one fine day, when these people will wake up and realize that there is nothing left to burn. The fact of the matter is that bhatta mafia, operating out of PAC, ANP and PPP do not want military getting involved as they will not be able to bleed this city dry. The only solution is a swift and brutal military operation for that is the only language these thugs will understand.
If you not? then who will do it? The Indians!!!!
Who are you to decide that Mr. Kayani??? Please do your job that you are suppose to and stop meddling politically. Army is still politicking by giving such statements, while we thought that the ISI doesnt have a political cell
This is clever tactics. We all know that it is special Military Police that has discovered all the hidden suicide vests, explosives and jackets. Common police are not able to do anything. Only to keep corrupt politicans happy, Army pretends police has found things. Salam to General Kayani for his sacrifices.
@Jat: This is a sham democracy. Also do not forget that whenever things hot up, our politicos go sobbing to the army chief. Whenever, there is a flood or earthquake the armed forces are at the forefront of rescue operations. Army bashing merely for the sake of of gaining cheap recommendation should be avoided. I salute them for the dedication they have shown in Gayari. Work is still continuing in sub zero temperatures. Has any political bothered to leave their cosy drawing rooms??
@megatron I forgot to say: for the reason mentioned in above post of mine, the current try to actually launch an operation against what happens in karachi daily, must now start and conclusovely include all the interior panjab, lawless KP regions, karachi and of course now parts of interior sind too. This is eesentially different from what that other psycho, Naseerullah Babar did in karachi. So do you now see why there is no way the current general is going to launch an operation? He knows even if he does try it in karachi, the metastasized cancer has roots in other parts. But he or no one from the other feudal minded parties has the wish to launch this large scLe operation bcoz once the public has peace and a moment to breath, it will start asking him, his other generals (ex and current) and these dirty parties where is all the money going and why there is no development for the common people but the lands grabbed by army and foreign accounts of these politicians keep on exponentially increasing.
Is it not for the Government to decide if Army is needed or not? Just wondering....
Just more evidence that your army does what it wants and doesn't report to your elected leaders -- a problem that you should put on the top of your "to do" list.
Great statement when government has failed entirely
No need for operation in karachi.. the situation have crossed all these things and reached to suicide bomb blast and remote blast all over the country. so if there is any operation required, it should take place all over the country.. Whether it is PPP or PML N both have their criminal groups too.. if any party want operation cleanup in the city means they just want to lay down their opponent..thats it.. I agree with Mr. Kiyani !!
@Megatron: Naseerullah Babur killed innocent people and buried innocents in Marsala hills, shame on you.
Megatron: As a citizen of KHI we dont want the operation as done by Naseerullah Babar, he brutally murdered several thousands of ppl and only civilians were effected with that operation. No Bhatta mafia, no target killers were apprehended at that time, that is reason we are still facing with all these culprits. Today Khi is facing the issue of only Talibanisation and only these butchers are killing the innocent ppl and can be tackled by the simple targetted operation by Rangers in the areas. But the authorities itself dont want to enter those areas due to lack of support from the higher ups.
@megatron According to what the intelligence agencies are saying about all the criminals you mentioned, the majority is one of the precious STRATEGIC ASSETS the military top brass have carefully cultivated and nurtured with full support of the PML and PPP leadership. How do you expect him to do operation against the TTP, SSP, Panjabi Taliban, LeJ, etc?
Mr. Chief we are the ones to decide your assignment in Karachi and don't forget the nation pays you for it. Let us know if you are tired in FATA then we may rethink the options in Karachi.
@Megatron: Yes, you are 100% right.
It's not your job to decide. You better reign in the monsters you have created, and shut down their safe heavens. If you were doing your job of protecting Pakistani Nation, and your institution were not obsessed with colonializing other countries, we would not have been in this mess.
But we Karachi people need one good operation from Rangers (like the one done by Naseerullah Babar on the past) ...get rid of us all bhatta khoors ,mobile snatchers & target killers..
General Kiyani by giving a clear cut statement has discouraged the statements of some politicians who want to see that another operation cleanup should take place in Karachi.
It is a matter of understanding as how politicians can shun their personal grievances, instead of increasing hatred in the country.
Let the people should chose their respective candidates of their choice in the next general elections.
If the people will choose good candidates, it will be their luck, otherwise the bad guys will remain on their heads for another five more years.
It is simply the choice of the people as whom they want to see in the assemblies and not of the politicians.
Who is he to decide whether Army action is required or not ? This is the job of the Pakistan government. Any General in any democracy in the world who gave such a statement would be immediately disciplined.
"Rangers are doing a good job in Karachi" hahaha !!