‘Most of the target killers arrested belong to political, banned parties’

Rangers have come under attack three times already in 2013, says spokesperson.

KARACHI:

Political parties in Pakistan have started to share their performance of the last five years but on Tuesday, the Sindh Rangers gave an overview of the work done by them since the beginning of this year.

Pakistan Rangers, Sindh spokesperson, Colonel Shafiq Niazi, said that 168 criminals, including 49 high-profile suspects were apprehended and 457 weapons of different calibers, were seized during 15 major operations in Karachi. He was speaking at a media briefing on the Rangers performance since January 1 at the Pakistan Rangers Headquarters.

He added that 401 suspects with 163 weapons were taken into custody during 97 raids conducted in parts of the city while 327 suspects along with 162 weapons were arrested during snap checking and routine patrolling. Most of the high-profile target killers and 39 extortionists who were arrested belong to political parties and banned outfits, he said.

Since January, Rangers have come under attack thrice, 14 Rangers personnel have been wounded and seven have already lost their lives. In reply to a question, he said that the Rangers are doing a good job against terrorist and criminal elements and that is why they were being targeted.

“We are being attacked so we stop our mission. But our only aim is to get rid of terrorism once and for all and we will not rest till we achieve that,” he said.

With reference to the blast at the Rangers Complex in North Nazimabad, he said that they are very close to arresting the culprits but could not share any information until they do so.

Expressing gratitude to the citizens of Karachi for cooperating with the Rangers, Niazi said that around 800 complaints have been received so far by the people of Karachi in the current year. “We always try to facilitate innocent citizens during our operations.”

He clarified that the raids were not being conducted in specific areas but in almost all parts of the city based on the intelligence information and complaints received by the citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2013.