PHOTO: PAKISTAAN.PK
ISLAMABAD: The ongoing surgical operation in Karachi will not remain confined to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) soon other political parties which are believed to have militant wings will be targeted.
The deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi is the result of an enduring turf war between major political parties, says a recent intelligence report that sheds light on how alleged militant wings of certain political parties have wreaked havoc on Karachi.
The report claims that besides the MQM, other key political parties also have militant wings in the metropolitan city.
The intelligence agencies recommend an across-the-board operation against criminals and militant wings of political parties to restore normalcy in the country’s financial hub.
The ongoing crackdown on criminals by the Rangers was launched in light of the report. “The raid on Nine-Zero is just the beginning … soon this campaign will target other militant wings,” said a security official.
In response to the Nine-Zero raid, MQM chief Altaf Hussain accused the military of being selective in its approach to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi and the rest of the country.
However, the security official dismissed the allegation and said it had already been decided that all political parties’ militant wings would be disarmed without discrimination. Under the National Action Plan, all non-state groups will be disarmed, he added.
He said that in terms of fighting extremism and terrorism, there was a clear strategic shift in the approach of the current military leadership. “There is a greater realisation now that for too long have we tolerated groups that use violence to further their interests,” said another official.
PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said his party supported across-the-board action against all criminals, irrespective of their party affiliations. Asked if the PPP has a militant wing in Karachi, Senator Babar said: “All I can say is that there should be an across-the-board operation to restore law and order in Karachi.”
ANP Senator Shahi Syed, however, denied his party had a militant wing in Karachi. “We have given a free hand to the Rangers. If they think our people are involved in any criminal activity, then they should be named and shamed.”
But Syed believes the operation alone is not the answer to the problem. “Unless the Karachi police are depoliticised, the law and order issue will prevail.”
Punjab operation
A similar operation will be carried out in Punjab against sectarian groups inciting violence across the country, said an official. A targeted campaign is already under way but it would be stepped up once the security forces establish the state’s writ in the tribal areas and restore law and order in Karachi, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2015.
much awaited news!! for all Pakistanis specially Karachitee!!Recommend
Somehow I do not believe they will do what they are saying they will, or they would not have announced their intentions publicly to go after the militant wings of other political parties. They would have just gone after those militant wings and let the people see it in action not in words. Long ago the will to run Pakistan as a normal country went out the door. Today 14 people died in the church blast. This would not have happened if there was a government in Pakistan committed to provide law and order to its’ citizens.Recommend
Mark my words,against sectarian outfits they will just plan and do nothing.Recommend
Good news at last. Way to go.Recommend
Yes please remove all this filthe.Recommend
This is discrimination against Muhajirs. We will not have our rights violated. Recommend
The operations started in Liyari but they proved to be better equipped then the paramilitary outfits themselves so they left simply..
The operations went towards the Taliban and their helpers but again the paramilitary was out-smarted So now they have decided to go for the weakest targets now they are demilitarizing the only defenders Karachi had in absence of these paramilitary people..Recommend
Wow. Informing about raids, great , they r waiting for u, as if they cant go to dubai etc etc. Lyari is the nursery of crime, when will lyari be crime free, operations taken place but zero success there.Recommend
@MEHdi:
No one has right to kill innocent peopleRecommend
@MEHdi If you are a Pakistani, of course you have your rights. But if after more than 65 years of independence, you still call yourself a Muhajir, then please go to India and get your rights!
Sincerely,
A Born KarachiiteRecommend
Good decision, we should appreciate the efforts of security forces.Recommend
With Karachi Operations being under Sindh CM (means PPP), how one expects an impartial, across the board clean up? Its another attempt to just uproot MQM to allow others to win seats. What a country we live in, full of hate and ethnic discrimination. Recommend
@Urban Legend:
Recommend
Will the Governor Sindh will also be arrested as he was in office all this period.Recommend
Which country has militant wings of political outfits..thats y Pakistan is in such a mess…no wonder y they support militants !Recommend
you promote this aspect so much online, in news media etc that other harboring militants will easily leave the scene for the time being making it sheer discriminatory towards a party of Karachi and making it biased in its approach. Recommend
All political parties and religious parties must be investigated without any discrimination.Their audit report must be made a public property to give an insight into the inclination of their direction.If it is going into the interest of the community then it will be appreciated otherwise people will get alert for their future.
All the hate speech material either in videos or in a printed stuff must be declared a criminal act if is promoted or share among the people in any way.Recommend
I’m a born and bred Karachiite, and I will never support the political party whose chairman said that the partition of the subcontinent was a great blunder in history. Never. It’s a shame to our forefathers who migrated here and also to Quaid E Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.Recommend
Following the steps in Karachi operation I must say that Pakistan politics is now really mature enough to tackle the terrorism problem in the country , media ,s role is praiseworthy too never letting any loophole to support any misconception about NAP. its very encouraging messaging to the people of Pakistan and of course discouraging to to all within and out side the borders. I must salute the designer of NAP who, after a lot failures , at last came up to the expectations of the nation. we are no doubt the greatest nation of the world and we have proved to the world that we neither fear nor surrender , we are ready to destroy terrorism and rebuild the country. Recommend
@Intelektual:
Your nick is in contrast with what you have written. You are calling mafia as defenders of Karachi? Height of ignorance!Recommend
I am a Karachiite and I must say current operations in Karachi are good for Pakistan.
But may i remind military leadership that a military operation against sectarian organizations in Punjab is also overdue for decades. Military has to prove a lot. I wish them good luck!Recommend
Surprise for MQM, alerts for others.Recommend
Pakistan security forces are on home turf when they fight Pakistan politicians. As Hussain Haqqani said, they are actually Politicians in uniform.Recommend
@Viking Star: You sound like being extremely ignorant or highly opinionated. Have you ever seen any convict (not proven guilty) to be paraded in front of the media with clear face and plate hanging with his name, date of arrest and location as Nine Zero. If its as per law, then why we don’t see it happening with any other terrorists or criminals?Recommend
@Viking Star:
You need to realize that white collar people are not equipped enough to defend Karachi from the likes of Liyari gang and Taliban ! Ofcourse the people defending the Karachi if not police and para-military had to be small time crooks I am not denying nor defending their criminal pasts but in comparison they are by far the lesser of the evils that endanger Karachi !
The Mafia has never been MQM the mafia is routed through KPK where arms and drugs are a local industry, The Mafia is routed through Baluchistan infamous for Kidnappers and extortionist !
Yes there are bad eggs in MQM that should be cleansed but they misuse their party status. Recommend
@Intelektual:
I should agree with u at least that rampant terrorism has fled into Karachi from around damaging its face , but should i ask who ruled Karachi for the last two to three decades and the same must be considered for the good or otherwise condition of the business hub of Pakistan; don’t u think we can still make it another Singapore but there are certain forces not letting it so. its time we should clean our city from every one and making it ‘Roshnion ka shehr’ again Recommend