Pakistan

Inching closer to arresting those who attacked Ismailis in Karachi: Nisar

Says war against terrorism not T20 or a 50 over match; Pakistan affected by militancy for the last 14 years

Web Desk May 18, 2015

Chaudhry Nisar. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has said that the law enforcement agencies are inching closer to arresting the Safoora attackers.

“Those responsible for the attack have come under focus,” the interior minister said while addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday. “There have been a few arrests as well but we cannot yet claim that we have caught the attackers.”

“I’ve been assured by the security agencies that those responsible for the attack will be brought to book,” he said.

He said the matter needs to be investigated in detail and the intelligence agencies need time.

Nisar said the war against terrorism was never meant to be an easy one.

“This is not T20 or a 50 over match,” he said. “Pakistan has been affected by militancy for the last 14 years,” he added.

The interior argued that previous regimes did not pay attention to rising militancy in the country, but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has made all efforts to root out the problem since it came into power.

“Extremism and terrorism in the country has reduced significantly since June 2013,” he added.

Nisar said numerous policy decisions, such as uniform policy on arms licenses, coordination with private security agencies and intelligence agencies, would be announced soon.

Nisar reviewed on Monday law and order in Karachi at the Rangers headquarters located in the city.

Read: Macabre violence: Ugly face of terror

Director General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar briefed him on the Safoora attack and ongoing Karachi operation, and he also met the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on his Karachi visit.

On May 13, a group of armed militants entered the bus carrying over 50 passengers belonging to the Ismaili community. The assailants shot them one by one, killing 45 people.

COMMENTS (7)

Mohsin Mian | 8 years ago | Reply Why is it we act after incident occurs why can't we prevent them happening.The intelligence sharing the local police and the rangers have been operating but compare the result statics. Karachi problems should be prioritized and solved. I think army has to operate which is fair and transparent institution in Pakistan. Army should see which areas need cleaning up and should do it irrespective of ethnic boundaries. Karachi should be handed over to it as we have lot of problems such as law and order, utilities shortages.Karachitties are facing daily problems

T. A. Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Mr. Chaudry Nisar dont try to deceive people you are incompetent and cant apprehend the bus carnage terrorists.

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Raees Ahmad | 8 years ago | Reply Yes, arrest them and protect them behind the bars. Against next government, Muslim League will use them as threat. It will be impossible for future government whether civilian or military to question Muslim League sponsored militants after three years. Muslim League, PTI, Judiciary and military can never execute militants at large.

ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply I would agree to this statement of Mr Nisar. There has been an overall improvement in security if compared to what the previous govt of PPP had done. Mr Nisar has proved to be lot a better than Mr Rehman. PPP govt had come with only 1 agenda - loot & plunder & the result was - OUT.

Imran | 8 years ago | Reply I would be very thankful if you could arrest all the culprits who are involved in Ismailis killing and give death penalty in front of all people like Saudi Arabia does. It is my wish. Thanks

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply It is good to hear from the Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that the law enforcement agencies are inching closer to arresting the Safoora attackers, and that he has been assured by the security agencies that those responsible for the attack will be brought to book. However, even if the culprits ar all caught, tried, convicted and hanged, this will not bring back the innocent lives lost, for no good reason. And the government's real job is to prevent such things from happening rather than just punishing the beasts who commit such brutality. It is true that the Police and Rangers who, by the way, have been resident in Karachi for many decades, have now become hyper-active, and are scoring significant successess. However, it is difficult to sustain this level of activity on a permanent basis and the real answer is to improve the capability of police and to improve substantially inteligence-gathering and coordination between difference intelligence agences for this purpose. And doing this would require a full time, capable, energetic and independent person as a Home Minister for Sindh instead of relying on a rather ageing Chief Minister to perform this all-important function on a part-time basis. Karachi operations basically started as a civilian affair, with Rangers helping the Karachi Police and with the Chief Minister being the overall incharge. I have mentioned CM as incharge of the operation because he has expressed a disliking for the term 'Captain' which was initially used for this position. However, he is gradually fading into the background, and military's involvement is gradually increasing. But with many fronts to look after, the military should resist the temptation to increase its involvement, or being sucked into it involuntarily, and should instead concentrate on improving the capacity of the police which is really the only permanent and satisfactory solution to the problem. And the first step towards achieving that objective could be to get a really capable, energetic and independent, full time Home Minister for Sindh Karachii

Kammiqazi | 8 years ago | Reply Review and then off to home in Rawalpindi. while poor citizen of Karachi suffer.

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