Arrested target killers to be produced before the people

Rehman Malik says the govt will make public those who claim to belong to any political party after they are arrested.

KARACHI:

Men arrested on suspicion of target killings will be produced before the media, said Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik in a press conference at Chief Minister House on Monday.

Malik, who was flanked by CM Qaim Ali Shah, Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza and information adviser Sharmila Farooqi, spoke after a meeting on Karachi's appalling law and order breakdown around the by-election in Orangi with a body count climbing into the 40s in two days. All political parties have been asked to produce a list to deputy inspectors general of police of workers expelled from their parties over misconduct and crime. This is not, however, the first time the government has attempted to work with coalition partners on rogue elements. Another aspect of the problem is that while out of 300 suspected killers, 50 men have been identified as belonging to political parties, the parties are not willing to own them.

Malik used his stock phrases such as "writ of the government" and "they will not let criminals take the law into their hands". Like before, he lauded the work done by the Rangers and Sindh home minister, who had incidentally just a day earlier said that not even America could have been able to control the "target killings". After congratulating these law-enforcing departments, he went on to simultaneously lament that criminals were getting out on bail more and more because the police were unable to collect enough evidence. The acquittals are also high as a result. "The court does not accept police evidence," Malik said, adding that therefore they were going to make amendments in the law soon.

Nadra will be asked to give the chief of police's office a direct link to fingerprint data as part of measures to clamp down on crime. Malik added that all DIGs have been asked to keep an eye out on the movement and activities of anti-social elements and illicit arms. "We want to make community policing functional, because the people know about the activities in their area, including who is involved in extortion," said Malik. This point came up because many bodies were found with "extortion chits". SHOs have been asked to prepare a list of political activists in their areas.

The government has also decided to induct an extra 10,000 police personnel in Karachi and the federal government will foot the bill.

The Centre will also launch a "Safe Karachi Project" on the lines of "Safe Islamabad Project" for which funds from China will be used. High-resolution cameras will be part of this project. "The Sindh police does not have enough resources and there is a dire need to increase their budget," the interior minister said.

Given that the 60 men arrested within two days possessed illegal pistols, the government is also going to pursue amendments in the law to make possession an offence punishable by ten years in prison.

Malik dismissed claims that militants or a "foreign hand" were involved in Karachi's violence. Criminals and land grabbers have also been killed. "After every four or five months the killing sprees start," said Malik. "We can not tolerate it any more and action will be taken against even those who belong to the [ruling] PPP."

According to handout issued by CM House, the CCPO has said that from Oct 16  to 18, 36 people were killed and 51 others were injured. Four people were killed over personal enmities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.