Performance report: 'Terror acts have spiralled after operation'

AIG Shahid Hayat unveils facts and figures of the targeted operation to the SC.


AIG Shahid Hayat and acting IG Sindh Police Iqbal Mahmood leave the Supreme Court building on Wednesday. PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI:


The number of target killings have gone down by 50 per cent in the city but extortionists and terrorists have increased their activities in retaliation of the targeted operation launched in September last year.  Additional Inspector-General of Karachi police, Shahid Hayat, revealed this information to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.


On Monday, the SC’s larger bench had directed the Sindh police IG to submit a report explaining delays in prosecuting the thousands of suspects taken into custody during the operation.

According to the report  on the analysis of the targeted operation in the city, a total of 7,325 suspect were arrested - which includes 285 murderers, 155 target killers, 71 kidnappers, 152 extortionists, 388 dacoits, 299 street criminals, 3,668 suspects arrested for possession of illicit arms and 2,256 for possession of narcotics.

Of those arrested, 229 are currently in police custody, while charges were framed agaisnt 5,577 suspects.

Another 242 were convicted by the courts, eight were acquitted, 1,814 bailed by the courts and 5,032 are currently in prison.

Giving an analysis of the crimes, the reports points out that the number of murders has decreased by 30 per cent while targeted killings have gone down by 56 per cent. Moreover, street crimes have dropped by three per cent during the period stretching over 171 days.

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The report indicated, however, a rise in the number of extortion and terrorism-related cases which jumped to 308 and 13, respectively, as compared to the 218 and four, reported during the corresponding period.

Terrorism, extortion

Police arrested 57 alleged terrorists during the operation. Of them 46 are currently in jail, while three are in police custody on physical remand.

During the operation, police received 975 complaints regarding extortion demands, while 308 FIRs were registered, 119 cases were successfully detected and 150 suspects were arrested. AIG Hayat was of the opinion that the number of cases registered by the police rose because they started registering FIRs on complaints without any hindrance.

During the corresponding period before the operation, 1,104 complaints of extortion were received, 218 FIRs were registered, 94 cases were detected and 97 accused arrested.

Murders, target killings

The report stated that the number of murders had dropped considerably during 2013, but a slight increase was recorded in January due to the issues relating to sustainability of the targeted operation.

During the operation, 601 suspects of involved in fresh and old cases of murder, registered back in 1990 were arrested during the operation. They include 356 suspects nominated in fresh cases while 32 proclaimed offenders and 213 absconders in old cases were also tracked down. “Interrogation of 346 murderers led to the detection of 596 murder cases,” stated the report.

At least 153 accused involved in target killings were arrested during the ongoing operation. Not a single accused was granted bail by any court so far.

Prosecution

The report says that police filed charge-sheets against a total of 7,524 accused involved in 9,195 cases. Police framed charges against 216 accused in 158 murder cases, 79 accused in 115 cases of targeted killings, 37 accused in 40 cases under the Explosives Act, 48 accused in 67 cases of kidnapping for ransom, 90 accused in 122 extortion cases as well as 2,840 accused in 2,787 cases registered under the Arms Act.

The report further states that 393 cases were instituted in the anti-terrorism courts.

Conviction

During the operation, the courts have convicted a total of 437 accused. Separately, the anti-terrorism courts have so far convicted 37 accused.

Cops killed

AIG Shahid Hayat stated in the report that 94 of his colleagues were killed in attacks on the police that witnessed an increase since January due to retaliation on action against terrorists and criminal elements.

Status of accused arrested during operation

Total

Arrested                                               7,325

Under police custody                             229


Challaned                                            5,577

Convicted                                                242

Acquitted                                                     8

Bailed Out                                            1,814

In Jail     5,032

Full report submitted by the AIG can be viewed here.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2014.

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