Police and Rangers can handle security over Ashura on their own, claims chief minister

IGP drives CM around the city to ensure security protocol being followed.


Our Correspondent November 24, 2012

KARACHI: Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah is confident that the police and Rangers are capable enough to keep a check on the law and order situation in Karachi during Ashura.

Accompanied by Inspector General Police Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari, the chief minister took a trip around the city on Friday to check whether the mapped out security plans were being followed. Some of the places he visited included II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road, Memon Masjid and Empress Market.

The chief minister said the government, keeping in mind the threats that have cropped up, has asked the armed forces to stay alert. He added that the army is now ready to swoop in and assist law enforcers, should any unwanted incident take place.

Shah lauded the Rangers for apprehending criminals and said he concurred with the chief of army staffs’ statement in which he ruled out a military operation in Karachi.

“I totally agree with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, because police and Rangers can deal with the situation.”

Despite bomb blasts, which have created panic over the last few days, Shah lauded the police efforts and said: “They have defused three live bombs outside imambargahs in Karachi and saved the lives of innocent people by putting themselves at risk. The bombs would have wreaked havoc if the police had not reached the spot on time.”

He asked the citizens to cooperate with the government so that peace would prevail during Ashura. When asked about the investigation into the twin blasts in front of the imambargah in Orangi Town, the chief minister said that the police have made some headway, but he was unwilling to divulge further details.

When asked why blasts were still occurring if law enforcers are indeed capable of preventing them, the chief minister accepted that there had been some gaps in intelligence network and the government was trying to fix this.

Fayyaz Leghari

The spokesperson for Chief Minister House said that Shah also reviewed the security arrangements at imambargahs and asked the police to strengthen the security at majalis across the city, as well as, at processions.

The chief minister has also asked Karachi Electric Supply Corporation to ensure uninterrupted power supply to majalis.

Meanwhile, Leghari told the media that over 5,000 policemen have been deployed only for the central procession while commandos have been stationed in other parts of the city.

Leghari further said that no one will be allowed to enter the main procession from the front and all link roads connected to MA Jinnah Road have been blocked.

Bomb defused in Baldia Town

Mochko police have registered an FIR no. 349/12 under the anti terrorism act against unidentified men for planting the bomb near Zainul Abideen Imambargah in Baldia Town. The bomb, weighing at least five kilogrammes, did not explode because there was no detonating device attached to it. It was later handed over to the bomb disposal squad. Around half a dozen suspects were taken into custody from processions and majalis in different parts of the city.

At least four men were taken into custody by the scouts near an imambargah in Ancholi. Two more suspects were held during the Muharram 7 procession in Baldia Town. Police were unable to find any weapon on the suspects but have taken them into custody.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.

 

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