Corps commander visits Lyari for the first time

KARACHI:

For the first time since Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar assumed the charge of Karachi Corps, he visited the city's violence-hit Lyari neighbourhood on Friday.

Mukhtar toured the entire locality, including the troubled areas where people are killed in daily clashes and targeted killing in the gang war between the Uzair Baloch group and the Baba Ladla group.

The corps commander was also accompanied by Sindh Rangers director-general Major General Bilal Akbar during his supervised visit. According to officials, Mukhtar aimed to get an overview of the law and order situation in Lyari and to boost the morale of Rangers personnel working to restore peace in the area.

A Rangers spokesperson said that Mukhtar interacted with troops from the law enforcement agency deployed on ground. "The corps commander was briefed about the prevailing law and order situation in Lyari with special reference to our ongoing operations," he said. "He praised the Rangers' efforts to bring stability back to Lyari."

ISPR officials also said that the Rangers were playing a vital role in restoring peace in Lyari. They added that such visits were a good sign and encouraged the troops.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2015.