CM says Karachi Operation not directed against any party

Appreciates efforts of law enforcers in controlling law and order in the city

KARACHI: Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah clarified on Thursday that the on-going operation in Karachi was not directed at any political party but the aim was to establish peace by eliminating criminal elements.

Speaking at a press conference about the law and order situation in the city, the chief minister, flanked by Sindh local government and information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, appeared to be reiterating the remarks made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his visit to Karachi a day earlier.

"With a 60 per cent decline in incidents of targeted killings and a significant decrease in street crimes and terrorism, the Karachi operation has brought perceptibly good results so far," said Shah. "In this context, the provincial government has received full cooperation and support of the federal government and won the people's confidence."



He asserted that the Karachi operation was launched in September 2013 after consultation with all relevant stakeholders and taking all political parties on board. "No political party had reservations at the time and no political party should have misgivings now."

The chief minister asserted that his government's commitment to provide better facilities to the law enforcers has led to positive results in the operation. "The Rs60 billion budgetary allocation for the police department in the current fiscal year, which is an increase of 87 per cent compared to last year's Rs32 billion, is evidence of this," he said. "The provincial government has increased salaries of police personnel and provided them modern weapons and bullet proof jackets."

In response to a question, the chief minister claimed ignorance about any replacement for Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2015.