‘Police are not targeting any ethnic group’

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf says search operations also serve as a deterrent. “In that, we have been successful”

LAHORE:

Pashtuns or other ethnic groups are, by no means, targeted in search operations, Operations DIG Haider Ashraf insists. “These operations are conducted on the basis of intelligence gathered by various authorities.”

On the ratio of the number of search operations conducted and the number of people questioned, he says, “We know there is not a militant in every house but the fact that we managed to nab 10 in these operations is more than satisfactory.”

Ashraf says search operations also serve as a deterrent. “In that, we have been successful.” The DIG says the Lahore police conducted search operations everywhere the intelligence agencies had told them might harbour terrorists. “We went into madrassahs that were considered no-go areas.” He says the police had gathered information on the students living there and had arrested several terrorism suspects.

On the alleged harassment of hotel and hostel owners and demanding bribes, he says that they had taken action against the officials involved and had held inquiries when the owners had filed complainants. The exact figures of complaints filed and action taken are not available. The ban on use of loudspeakers in mosques has been implemented completely in Lahore, he says. The incident involving offensive posters in Hafeez Centre and the reaction of traders shows that the issue of Khatm-i-Nabawut is very sensitive, he says. “It provokes a reaction and people get very emotional.” He says the police had arrested a suspect involved in the case but he was released on bail by a court. “If the incident occurs again, we will go talk to the traders and remove the material.” He says the Lahore police had killed all the terrorists and militants involved in the Wagha Border, Yohanabad Church attacks and Qila Gujjar Singh attacks. On action against facilitators and financers of militants, he says a list of more than 100 facilitators and financers was prepared by intelligence agencies and action was taken against them. “We have not allowed proscribed organisations to regroup under another name… we did not allow them to collect funds or sacrificial hides either.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2016.