KARACHI:
The authorities detained nearly 100 suspects and seized several weapons after conducting a joint search operation in Sohrab Goth on Wednesday. They claim to have released most of the detainees.
The entire area was cordoned off by barricades and no one was allowed to leave till the search operation had ended.
Around 500 rangers and policemen in 50 vehicles, including armoured personnel carriers (APCs), conducted the door-to-door search in Al-Asif Square, Indus Plaza, Jannat Gul Town and Macchar Colony. A special rangers squad, which included women, helped with the operation that lasted nearly six hours.
Law enforcement agents were positioned on the rooftops and also looked through water tankers. Police officials said that they had picked up 100 people during the operation but 50 of them were released soon after. The remaining detainees were taken to an undisclosed location for questioning and more people are expected to be released soon. The officials added that they had seized 80 weapons, including Kalashnikovs, rifles and pistols, along with narcotics and stolen vehicles.
“The detained suspects include illegal Afghan immigrants who are members of a notorious criminal gang which robs people on the highway,” said DSP Iftikhar Lodhi. “The suspects and weapons were not handed over to the police and are in Rangers’ custody.” He added that cases would be registered against those who were found guilty.
The authorities evacuated over one-and-a-half dozen apartments in Sanober Heights in sector 2 of Sacchal as they were taken over by the land mafia. They handed over the apartments to the owners.
Other raids and arrests
The Sindh police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) said that they have arrested three target killers involved in killing four political activists and an arms dealer for smuggling weapons into the city. CID SSP Fayyaz Khan said that two suspects were arrested after encounters in Orangi Town and Hyderi. The authorities added that they seized two Kalashnikovs from the suspects who were later identified as Rafiq Rangar and Rehan.
“During the initial interrogation, Rafiq had confessed to have killed Waseen Baloch and Amir Ali Baloch from the Pakistan Peoples Party in Mominabad,” said the DSP. “Rafiq’s brother Rana Atiq alias Gullu acted as an accomplice and we hunted for him, but he was not found.” The DSP added that Rafiq was affiliated with a political party and was involved in a few extortion cases and Rehan was also a wanted man.
A suspected target killer affiliated with a political party was arrested in a raid in Gulshan-e-Maymar. He was identified as Kashif Raza Abidi. DSP Lodhi said that the suspect was associated with the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi and was involved in killing Azeem Mota and Saadat Ali alias Khan Sahab of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Quaidabad.
The district south police said that they have arrested an alleged arms dealer from Saddar. The man was identified as Shahid and the police suspect that he had been smuggling a large quantity of arms and ammunition to different criminal gangs from the Northern Areas. They claim to have seized 45 pistols, two Kalashnikovs, four rifles, thousands of bullets and 36 arms licences from him.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
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It is about time that the media shed its fears and starts naming the political parties that these terrorists belong to. We the citizens of this country have been fed on half-truths and lies for too long. The media claims that it speaks the truth and informs its viewers. That is only half true. To remain fair name the parties so that the people know no matter which party is involved. You can never be accused of bias or of being scared if you call a spade a spade. Time for the media too to shed its fear and speak the truth.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: I second that
Good job is been done by Rangers and Police.
You people must go on and arrest all those target killers, irrespective of their political affiliation, who were involved in killing innocent people in Karachi.
The Ranger and the Police must nab all such culprits to control law and order in Karachi.
The city must return to peace and tranquility at any cost.
I want to see the city of lights illuminated at all times. Pakistan should move forward for fast progress and unless peace is not restored nothing can be achieved.