KARACHI: While Karachi’s residents celebrated Eid, Interior Minister Rehman Malik spent the holiday visiting conflict-hit areas and prisons. According to Malik, “action with full force and vigour would continue till the restoration of peace and harmony in Karachi.”
He referred to the ‘surgical’ operations, which are being conducted in specific areas by the police and Rangers, and said that raids and arrests continued during the Eid holiday. Malik said a considerable amount of arms and ammunition were seized and people were taken into custody.
The interior minister told reporters that, during an operation in Khuda Ki Basti, 11 TT pistols, three nine mm rifles, five shotguns as well as a revolver and an air gun were seized by the Pakistan Rangers.He praised the Rangers for their successful raids and arrests and said that, wherever and whenever targeted operations were required, they would be conducted irrespective of which community dominates the area. Law enforcement agencies have also been allowed to raid the offices of political parties if they have specific and credible information about the presence of a target killer or arms and ammunition.
He also vowed to release the confessions of alleged target killers after the Eid holidays, and said that target killers and their patrons are now on the run. The interior minister said they would find no where to hide and warned target killers to surrender to the authorities.
Malik, who is visiting Karachi on the instructions of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, offered Eid prayers at the Police Headquarters in Garden where he met with the families of martyred policemen. He also visited Empress Market and the house of deceased PIA Peoples Unity leader Aamir Shah. Malik assured Shah’s heirs that his killers would be arrested. On the third day of Eid, Malik visited Central Jail and assured prison officials that he would work to bring their salaries to the level of the Motorway Police.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ