KARACHI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the targeted operation in Karachi will continue for an indefinite period of time, while directing authorities to arrest and initiate action against criminals irrespective of what political affiliations they had.
The PM was chairing a meeting over Karachi's law and order situation at the Governor House here after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the coastal power project in Hub.
"Karachi operation will continue till the fulfillment of its objectives," he said and added, "I stand by police and rangers. They should treat criminals as criminals and must not care about the criminals' affiliations."
“Police parties and ground should stop making uproar on the arrest of their workers because the operation is against criminals not any specific party or group,” he said while addressing the participants of the meeting.
He instructed officials to immediately implement the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) to deal with crime in Karachi.
He directed law enforcement agencies and the Sindh Government to shift terrorists and criminals, especially the high-profile ones, to other provinces for trials, so that the safety of prosecutors and witnesses was ensured.
The premier further ordered that all illegal cellular phone SIMs be blocked, and biometrics system be henceforth used for issuance of new SIMs.
Nawaz was informed that as many as 41 prisoners were identified through the NADRA verification process as 'proxy prisoners' in place of real criminals.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was present during the meeting, assured that an inquiry will be held in this matter.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was briefed that since September this year a total of 63, 475 raids and 455 encounters had taken place in which 74 target killers and terrorists were arrested.
The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh Dr Eshratul Ebad, Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Chief Secretary Sindh, Director General Rangers, Inspector General of Police Sindh and other senior government officers.
PM invites Corps Commanders and Kayani to dinner
Nawaz Sharif invited the outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and all Corps Commanders of Pakistan Army to a dinner, Express News reported.
Kayani is set to retire from his post as COAS on November 29.
COMMENTS (11)
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I wish I could see same time of Picture when last PPP Government PM visit Lahore.
This is yet another great news coming from Pakistan's economic hub which was hitherto a danger zone due to militant wings of some ethnic-cum-political parties. While the Political Wing of TTP hates any good news in Pakistan the two visible improvements in Karachi are reduction in crime rate and reduction in loadshedding. As a result, investment is forthcoming which will provide thousands of jobs and improve the living standards of the people. Long Live Roshan Pakistan!
@Karim Azizi: If criminals have religious affiliations or have Punjab within their reach, then they are stakeholders. Remember what happened to Chhotta gang.
@Karim Azizi: Do you ever think positive?
@ Pakiboy
I bet you are a TTP support hidden behind the shells of PTI or JI. and would be unable to answer the question raised by karim Azizi in first post here.
This is the biggest hypocrite PM in our history. He & his party members have links with TTP & Saudia still he considers everyone else a criminal.
I wonder why in my country meeting and greeting of our own PM happens at airport all the time ; this is wastage of time of people government and great inconvenience to public; what is wrong he goes directly to meet CM and governor in meeting directly which will save time for work done for that day.
What if the criminals are affiliated with the Taliban, should we try and achieve peace through dialogue then Mr. PM?