Rangers claim major success in ‘targeted operation’

High-profile killers caught, heavy guns and ammo seized from party offices.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers in Sindh swept through the city in a massive operation on Thursday, roping in dozens of suspects, including so-called high-profile target killers.

A huge stash of arms and ammunition were seized but at a late evening press conference at the Jinnah Courts headquarters, Colonel Shafiq Niazi Khan divulged few details of the suspects in custody and their political affiliations if any. “During the last 24 hours, our men carried out successful missions in Gulbar town’s Yusuf Plaza, Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Pehlwan Goth, Banaras, Pirabad, Sohrab goth and Baldia’s Rangarr Para area,” he said, adding that they had been carrying out ‘targeted operations’ since August 25.

More than 150 weapons, including 9mm pistols, 30 bore pistols, MK-4 rifles, 44 bore, 8mm rifle, repeater guns, Kalashinkovs, 22-bore rifles and shotguns along with mounds of ammunition were seized from the suspects. Moreover, 70kgs of charas was found on them too. A pair of binoculars were also among the items on display for the media at the HQ.

The senior officer stressed that most of these weapons were taken from either unit offices of major political parties in the city or the houses of individuals in residential areas.

Khan said the Rangers were noting a worrying trend during the course of their operations. “The heavily armed miscreants are using women and children as human shields and forcing innocent people to give them shelter,” he said. However, he urged people not to fear the criminals and cooperate with the authorities as they would ensure that no harm came to them.

The officer urged the media to stay away from areas where their personnel carry out their raids since it affects their work.

The officer refrained from giving the exact number of suspects in custody and only said that since their operation began on August 25, hundreds have been picked up. “I can only confirm that more than 20 suspects were picked up in the last 24 hours,” he said.

He revealed that the Rangers force is being closely assisted by the Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence agencies. “Their role is restricted to providing us with key intelligence, while we carry out the raids based on those leads.”

When pressed about the number of so-called high profile target killers and their backgrounds, he said that since investigations were still in a preliminary stage, one could only say there are ‘quite a few’ such suspects with them. Khan said one could use common sense to predict which of the suspects belonged to which political party, based on the areas where the raids were conducted.

Khan rejected TV reports that another torture cell was unearthed by his force in Baldia. He also said that the names of the alleged suspects being aired on TV were based on speculation.

The officer was repeatedly asked to give the names of the alleged target killers in custody. “It’s not true that there is any political pressure on the Rangers and that was why we are refraining from giving out the names.”

Meanwhile, SSP Raja Umer Khattab announced on Thursday that his unit too had nabbed four alleged target killers from Liaqatabad and Angara Goth’s B area. A Kalashinkov and three TT pistols were seized from them. The suspects belong to ‘a political party’.  They have confessed to having killed at least eight people. The big catch, suspect Sanaullah alias Charya’s criminal record dates to 1996 and since then he has been booked in at least 35 cases. He was previously nabbed and sent to jail where he stayed for five years. He was released in 2008 when he benefitted from the National Reconciliation Ordinance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th,  2011.