Restoring peace: Final phase of Karachi operation gets PM’s nod

Gen Raheel says army is ready to provide any kind of support.

KARACHI:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the third and final phase of the ongoing surgical operation in Karachi, as the military brass and political leadership agreed that ‘no political interference will be tolerated’ while restoring peace in the metropolis.

At two separate high-level huddles, the premier was briefed on the Karachi operation, its outcome and hurdles. Attendees included army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Ishratul Ebad, DG ISI Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, DG Intelligence Bureau Aftab Sultan, DG Rangers Rizwan Akhtar and Corps Commander Karachi Lt-Gen Sajjad Ghani. Former president Asif Ali Zardari also attended the meetings.

The political and military leadership decided to speed up the third phase of the surgical operation to purge Karachi of criminals. At the same time, they agreed to take strict and indiscriminate action against the political figures supporting criminals and terrorists.

In the final phase, the military and intelligence agencies will assist the paramilitary Rangers and police in their crackdown on criminals. A monitoring committee will also be constituted to look into any complaints vis-à-vis the operation.

“All political forces will be taken into confidence before the operation is launched,” the premier said. “We want the support of all stakeholders. A joint solution is the only solution.”

In the meetings, the prime minister was informed that a network of banned outfits exists in Karachi. Similarly, some criminal elements were spreading chaos with the support of some political parties. He was also informed that in terrorism cases witnesses mostly avoided recording their statements for security reasons.

Gen Raheel said Pakistan Army was ready to provide any kind of support to the federal and provincial governments. “We will give our honest opinion and assistance whenever it is sought from us,” he said. The army chief suggested putting a stop to political interference in the posting and transfer of police officials.

According to sources, while the army’s help in restoring peace in Karachi came under discussion, it was decided that it was not needed. They said the DG Rangers told the participants that his force could stamp out crimes if political interference was stopped.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Haider Abbas Rizvi said that his party, for the first time, briefed the prime minister on their issues. “We want peace in Karachi, but human rights violations need to be kept in mind,” he said.

At the same time, Rizvi said the gathering of military and political forces on the issue of restoring peace to Karachi had sent a ‘clear message’ to those who wanted to destabilise the city.

The interior minister also briefed the participants on the state-of-the-art equipment being procured for the law-enforcement agencies as well as the measures being taken to crack down on illegal SIMs. Some 0.7 million illegal SIMs have been cancelled, Nisar said. He added that another crackdown on illegal SIMs would be carried out after 3G technology is in place.

Former president Zardari told Prime Minister Nawaz that the Sindh police needed modern equipment. He also urged all political forces to support the law enforcement agencies in their efforts to restore peace in Karachi. According to sources, Zardari and Nawaz also held a separate meeting later.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2014.