Law and order: Nawaz approves oversight committee to monitor Karachi operation

DG Rangers, DG ISI, Interior Minister, Chief Minister Sindh and former president Asif Ali Zardari were in attendance.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the formation of an committee tasked with monitoring the targeted operation in Karachi, Express News reported.

The committee will comprise Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, DG Rangers Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar, and Additional IG Shahid Hayat along with members of political parties and intelligence agencies will also be represented in the committee.

By approving the oversight committee the prime minister addressed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) longstanding demand of a monitoring committee. The MQM had alleged that the targeted operation by law enforcement agencies was unfairly targeting them.

Army chief offers help, Zardari says police option first

Earlier in a high-level meeting, chaired by the prime minister at the Governor House in Karachi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said the army is on the same page as the government in providing assistance for the ongoing operation in the city.

However, according to Express News Islamabad bureau chief Amir Ilyas Rana, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said that the police should work on the operation with the help of the Rangers before the army is called in.

The prime minister said that terrorists and criminals should be brought to justice without any  political prejudice. “We want cooperation of all stakeholders in Karachi and I see no one who will not want to improve the law and order situation of Karachi, therefore, a joint solution is the only option,” he added.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of intelligence sharing with police and Rangers for tackling criminals in the city.

The meeting was chaired by PM Nawaz Sharif and also in attendance were DG Rangers, DG Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Zahirul Islam, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and the Corps Commander Karachi.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan briefed the meeting about the state-of-the-art equipment that would be provided to law enforcement agencies and that 700,000 illegal mobile SIMs that had been blocked. He added that once 3G mobile technology was in place, the government would further crackdown against illegal SIMs.

Shahi Syed of Awami National Party (ANP) and Haider Abbas Rizvi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were also present at the meeting.

The city's deteriorating security situation and the ongoing targeted operation were discussed at the meeting and a briefing was given about the target killings that have been taking place in Karachi.

"We do not want to see Karachi in darkness, nor do we want to see Karachi in shutter-down," the premier said according to sources. "The development of Karachi affects the country as a whole."

Sources also said that the federal government is serious about helping the provincial government about the restoration of peace in Karachi.

Action will be taken against banned outfits that are against the state, sources said.

Speaking to the media after the meeting with the premier, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that the party is fully supportive of the ongoing operation in Karachi.

Furthermore, the interior minister said during the meeting that steps will be taken to implement the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) and to block illegal SIMs.

The ongoing operation against the criminals began in September, 2013 when the premier had visited Karachi to formulate a strategy to curb the violence.