A group of school children dodge their way through the law enforcers who were conducting an operation in Chanesar Goth on Thursday morning. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD AZEEM/EXPRESS
During a joint operation conducted by Rangers personnel and police teams in different areas of the city, the law enforcers managed to arrest 28 suspects, including three alleged target killers and two drug peddlers, on Thursday. The officials also recovered a big cache of arms and ammunition.
According to details, the raids were conducted in Chaneesar goth, Korangi, Samanabad, Sukhan, Darakshan, Sharafi Goth, Nazimabad, Machar Colony, Kharadar, Gulbahar and Paposh Nagar.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a Rangers spokesperson said that following the directions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Rangers officials had chalked out a strategy to conduct a surgical clean-up operation around the city to curb the crime rate.
On Thursday, Rangers DG presided over a meeting with the operational commanders of the paramilitary force and officials of intelligence agencies, to work out a strategy in this regard, he said.
On Wednesday night, Rangers DG inquired about the security cameras installed in the city during his visit to the command and control system of the city district government. He also directed the relevant authorities to repair out-of-order cameras immediately to help catch criminals.
The Rangers official said that the paramilitary force, however, is still waiting for an official notification from the federal government empowering the Rangers to register cases and conduct full-scale operation against target killers, land grabbers and extortionists.
“We are learning through the media about the mandate to be given to us to lead operation against criminals in Karachi, but our headquarters is yet to receive a notification in this regard,” he added.
The interior minister had announced that the Rangers would be given full power to lead both the investigation and the operation in Karachi, he added.
“But nothing has happened as yet and we are conducting operations as per routine.”
On Wednesday, the federal government had constituted a committee, headed by federal minister Zahid Hamid, to work out modalities. The committee would be taking measures to enhance the powers of Rangers with regards to the operation. Furthermore, the notification will provide for the lead role of the paramilitary force in the targeted operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2013.
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