Karachi peace plan: Paramilitary forces to conduct operation
Cabinet member says premier will announce the proposed plan for operation likely to be launched in Lyari, Sohrab Goth.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has “decided in principle” to launch a targeted operation against criminals, target killers and extortionists in Karachi this month, a federal cabinet member told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
It is a Hobson’s choice, which is a ‘choice’ with only one option, he said. “The operation will be conducted on a now-or-never basis.”
Paramilitary forces will conduct the operation that aims at eliminating criminal elements from Karachi within six months. The military will operate as a quick response force if needed, the cabinet member added. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will supervise the operation which will be spearheaded by the Rangers.
Prime Minister Nawaz will take all political parties into confidence by the end of this week, he said.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, after meeting the heads of all civilian intelligence agencies, also requested the prime minister to give his final nod to law-enforcement agencies for launching an operation in Karachi, a senior official of the interior ministry told The Express Tribune.
“The premier will announce the proposed plan for the targeted operation in Karachi today (Wednesday)”, he said.
According to the proposed plan prepared by Sindh home department, the operation will most probably be launched in Lyari Town and Sohrab Goth – the most sensitive areas declared by the agencies, said the official. Then it will be expanded to Manghopir, Orangi Town, Korangi, Manghopir, Landhi, Ranchore Lines and Ittehad Town.
Targeting the hideouts of banned outfits will be the priority, while the Rangers and police will be given special powers to conduct search operations in any house, mosque or madrassah.
The home department will ask the local people to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies.
The government will constitute a powerful committee to monitor the operation whose members include Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, journalists and civil society.
The National Crisis Management Cell, a subsidiary department of the interior ministry, highly recommended both the federal as well as the provincial government to cleanse the city. “The federal government, by using all forces, should launch an operation in Karachi,” is the gist of a report sent to the prime minister earlier this week.
The report further revealed that several Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan factions and al-Qaeda elements have moved to Karachi. Such factions are penetrating deeper into the city every passing day, it claims. Therefore, a targeted operation is inevitable whether the military is engaged or not, NCMC Director-General Wing Commander (retd) Tariq Lodhi advised the government in the report.
The militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is responsible for much of the violence in the city and it needs to be rooted out, stated the report.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2013.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has “decided in principle” to launch a targeted operation against criminals, target killers and extortionists in Karachi this month, a federal cabinet member told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
It is a Hobson’s choice, which is a ‘choice’ with only one option, he said. “The operation will be conducted on a now-or-never basis.”
Paramilitary forces will conduct the operation that aims at eliminating criminal elements from Karachi within six months. The military will operate as a quick response force if needed, the cabinet member added. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will supervise the operation which will be spearheaded by the Rangers.
Prime Minister Nawaz will take all political parties into confidence by the end of this week, he said.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, after meeting the heads of all civilian intelligence agencies, also requested the prime minister to give his final nod to law-enforcement agencies for launching an operation in Karachi, a senior official of the interior ministry told The Express Tribune.
“The premier will announce the proposed plan for the targeted operation in Karachi today (Wednesday)”, he said.
According to the proposed plan prepared by Sindh home department, the operation will most probably be launched in Lyari Town and Sohrab Goth – the most sensitive areas declared by the agencies, said the official. Then it will be expanded to Manghopir, Orangi Town, Korangi, Manghopir, Landhi, Ranchore Lines and Ittehad Town.
Targeting the hideouts of banned outfits will be the priority, while the Rangers and police will be given special powers to conduct search operations in any house, mosque or madrassah.
The home department will ask the local people to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies.
The government will constitute a powerful committee to monitor the operation whose members include Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhry, journalists and civil society.
The National Crisis Management Cell, a subsidiary department of the interior ministry, highly recommended both the federal as well as the provincial government to cleanse the city. “The federal government, by using all forces, should launch an operation in Karachi,” is the gist of a report sent to the prime minister earlier this week.
The report further revealed that several Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan factions and al-Qaeda elements have moved to Karachi. Such factions are penetrating deeper into the city every passing day, it claims. Therefore, a targeted operation is inevitable whether the military is engaged or not, NCMC Director-General Wing Commander (retd) Tariq Lodhi advised the government in the report.
The militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is responsible for much of the violence in the city and it needs to be rooted out, stated the report.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2013.