Over 100 men released after a day

Suspects released from custody after questioning, Rangers spokesperson said operation not targeting one group.

KARACHI: Over 100 suspects were released after initial questioning from the custody of the Pakistan Rangers on Friday, a day after their arrest.

Sources said that the Rangers seized a huge cache of weapons during the operation late on Thursday.

The suspects were taken to an undisclosed location. Pakistan Rangers spokesperson Major Bilal said that the aim of the operation was to track down criminals in the city. “We are not targeting any one group,” he said. There was a bad reaction from the Awami National Party that claimed only Pakhtuns were rounded up. On Friday the party’s members registered their protest in Islamabad as well.

On Thursday night, a heavy contingent of police and Rangers surrounded Sultanabad close to PIDC House, within the jurisdiction of Artillery Maidan. After a thorough search inside the neighbourhood, several suspects were arrested.

A similar operation was conducted in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, where the Rangers surrounded Rabia City apartments and suspended traffic going towards Jauhar Chowrangi from Pehlwan Goth. Sources said that several suspects were arrested from here as well.

Later in the night, the Rangers raided Katti Pahari, Orangi Town, Scouts Colony, Quaid-e-Azam Colony, Soldier Bazaar, Baldia Town and Manghopir. Major Bilal refused to give the exact number of people who were arrested or the amount of weapons seized because the operation was still under way. The Rangers have been tasked under the anti-terrorism act to control target killings.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2010.