Karachi violence: ‘Limited military operation possible’

Malik says govt will not hesitate if it feels the need to call in the army to nab the culprits behind target killings.

ISLAMABAD: While the government had contemplated all options to restore peace in Karachi, including a limited, specific military operation, no operation was launched, nor will be in the future, under external pressure, said  federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik here on Tuesday.

However, if the government itself feels the need to call in the army to nab the culprits behind the spiralling wave of target killings in a specific operation, it would not hesitate from doing so, said Malik.

Malik blamed the stream of terrorists trickling in from the north-western areas of the country for the unrest in Karachi, adding that it was part of a conspiracy to destabilise Karachi.

At least 25 terrorists, who had been planning to kill prominent figures in Karachi, have been arrested in the city in January, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2011.