“The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) stance aside, it is also our responsibility and mine as the home minister to remove the threats by extortionists,” Manzoor Wassan told the journalists at the Sindh Assembly on Friday afternoon.
The minister was on the defensive after a morning of listening to the provincial leadership of the MQM call on the government to act against the extortionists. “We have helped stop targeted and sectarian killings and we can stop this as well.”
Wassan repeated many of the things said by Inspector General of Sindh Police Mushtaq Shah, who met traders on Thursday. Wassan noted that the government had hired 800 more police officers and will add another 850 constables, who were currently being trained. He has identified 10 police stations, of 110 in Karachi, which need support to act against the extortionists. They include Bahadurabad, Pirabad, Arambagh, Manghopir and Kharadar police stations. The government established Anti-Extortion Cell which has received 15 complaints since it was established.
Wassan also offered examples of how the state of security had improved since he took over as the home minister last July.
But he was also keen to offer a historical perspective. “Extortion isn’t new. It’s been around for the past 20 to 22 years... sometimes it’s less, sometimes it increases.”
The minister said that he had wanted to present on Friday, in the Sindh Assembly, the initiatives being taken by the government to protect traders from extortion threats, but was unable to because the session was adjourned. Two extortionists, Mohammad Saeed and Mohammad Anwar, have been arrested and investigating them will help lead to whoever was behind the operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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Dear Mr. Manzoor Wassan:
Who stop you to remove Bhatta Mafia from Karachi?
Don't you know that being Interior Minister of Sindh, it is your prime responsibility to control law and order situation and to arrest extortionists and kill people if they do not give money?
Are your hands tied at your back? And if this is the case, then why don't you speak out about your problems in the Sindh Assembly?
If you are not capable to control the law and order situation then you should immediately resign and vacate the position for some one else to take over, who is capable to control the every day worsening situation in Karachi.
Or you are still awaiting to see another dream?
You make tall claims and when the bad guys roam freely on the roads you just go into your bunker and sleep.
Shame upon you.
Giving ticket to Hasnain Mirza and ensuring his win is certainly an indication How serious we are to control Bhatta. Borrowing from Winner's father every body in this country is Rehman Malik. Lies, Lies and Lies. This is the gist of our Governance. I am waiting for ALLAH.
Were you sleeping or dreaming since past few months when this Bhatta and ranson demands were a common feature? consider resigning....
Karachi has become "free for all " sort of city .People from all the provinces and interior Sindh are flocking in , committing crimes and going back to strike again .
The non local police and Rangers are the root cause of Karachis lawlessness
Please do not take him at his word. He needs a strong medicine to wake up from his dreams, like a kick in the head.