No area in Karachi no-go, operations making a difference: Rehman Malik

Malik says 90 criminals, 28 extortionists arrested. 14,000 acre land recovered. 20.1 million mobile SIMs blocked.

ISLAMABAD: Operations without discrimination is helping improve law and order situation in Karachi, said Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik on Tuesday. He reiterated that no one would be allowed to disrupt peace in the trade city.

Talking to mediapersons during his visit to National Press Club (NPC), Malik said law enforcement agencies had apprehended 48 target killers, 90 criminals, 28 extortionists and recovered 308 weapons from their possession. Enumerating further details of the operations, he said flags of political parties have been removed from various locations, adding that around 14,000 acre of land, captured by land mafia, had been reclaimed.

He said operation in Karachi was being conducted without any discrimination, with the sole objective to bring normalcy and ensure peace.

(Read: Rangers operation: Over 200 suspects arrested in Karachi, arms recovered)

Answering a question, he said people arrested during the Karachi operations belonged to all political parties and he was of the view that parties did not recruit criminals, but they (culprits) commit crimes and later seek refuge in political parties.

Rehman Malik said his Ministry had audio, video tapes and list of criminals and he would make public names of the criminals once he gets permission from the Supreme Court.

“I would consult with Federal lawyer Babar Awan to get permission from the Supreme Court for making public the names of criminals,” he added.

About the allegations labelled by the leader of the opposition in National Assembly, Malik made it clear that he had no link with any terrorist.

Replying to another question, the Minister said he was enjoying good relations with the MQM, which was part of the parliament and people have elected MQM’s representatives.  “It would be unjustified to declare any political party as terrorists without any evidence,” he added.

Rehman Malik said he had not released any criminal in Karachi and if anyone had any evidence,  they could approach the court.

The Minister also contradicted reports of foreign security agencies operating in the country. He advised foreign visitors to visit only permitted areas.

He said a committee had been constituted to probe an incident in which journalists of a private television channel had been tortured by unidentified persons. The committee will submit a report and action would be taken as per findings.

He recalled that Judicial Commission was constituted on the demand of journalists community to probe killing of Saleem Shehzad and added the Commission has submitted the report to the Ministry. He handed over the report to President of NPC, Afzal Butt.

The Minister also shared investigation report of journalist Umar Cheema with Afzal Butt. The report has also been submitted to National Assembly, he said.

The Minister said four persons have been arrested in connection with the killing of Wali Babar. Journalists are one of the state pillar, he said and added “attack against any journalist will be considered an attack against the government and or me.”

Rehman Malik said that about 20.1 million mobile SIMs have been blocked by the government.

(Read: Business community woes: Unregistered SIMs termed root of all criminal activity)

Expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved by the Police and Rangers in Karachi, he said there was no no-go area in Karachi and police and Rangers are now free to move and can take action in the areas which were not accessible in the past.