Spare no one: Police chief promises ‘across the board’ crackdown
He was addressing a press conference on Monday evening at the DIG South’s office in Artillery Maidan in the presence of all the zonal top police officers. The media was given a detailed briefing on the crackdown.
Mirza claimed that the reason why the spate of killings has come down in the last few weeks was the success of the operation in the city. “The police has never favoured any criminal group and it is because of our across-the-board action that the spate of killings has gone down,” he said.
He stressed that no one was being spared in the current search and raids missions being carried out in close coordination with the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh. “Action has been taken not only at groups said to have taken shelter within political parties, but also criminals hiding inside religious organisations,” he said. He added that today there are no longer any no-go areas for the authorities and the current operation is testament to this fact.
The police officer was referring to the recent raids in the city that were conducted not only at Muttahida Qaumi Movement strongholds and unit offices in Baldia, but also at the house of the party’s bitter rival, the chief of the defunct Peoples Amn Committee, Uzair Baloch in Lyari’s Singhu Lane. Raids have also been conducted at the strongholds of the Awami National Party and Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi. The main headquarters of the Sunni Tehreek and the offices of the proscribed Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan have also not been spared.
However, when asked to correspond to criticism that despite the hoopla surrounding the crackdown, the truth is that no wanted and notorious target killers have been apprehended, Mirza dispelled the impression. “We have in our custody 48 target killers, who are high-value suspects,” he said, adding, however, that perhaps some have yet to be nabbed. But it was only a matter of time before the dragnet reins in those fugitives as well.
The city’s police chief said his personnel are aware of the threats of a backlash on their force because of the raids. “Many of our officers in the past have been targeted for carrying out their duties. Around nine of our officers were also killed in the last few months. But for now, things are under our control and the criminals are on the run.”
According to the figures released at the press conference, the police have conducted 2,116 raids between August 18 and September 12, which resulted in the arrests of 48 target killers, 21 accused of collecting extortion and 1,478 suspected criminals. The weapons recovered during this period include 36 AK-47s, 476 pistols, 19 rifles, 18 repeater guns and 259 hand grenades.
Also, on Monday evening the police arrested five more suspects accused of arson and burning houses in Pirabad.
Between September 10 and 11, the police apprehended 12 target killers and 78 criminals in 119 raids conducted in various parts of the city including Rizvia, Pak Colony, New Karachi and Mawach goth. Also, 290 weapons were recovered in those two days alone.
The total number of people killed and target killings
January 125 38
February 92 11
March 220 65
April 166 47
May 144 15
June 215 13
July 325 130
August 258 147
September 38 2
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2011.
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