Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday has said that Rangers have taken control of the pickets of terrorists positioned on top of ‘Katti Pahari’ in Orangi Town area. “Adjoining areas are also gradually coming under the control of Rangers and the Police,” he said while talking to media persons along with PML(F) chief Pir Saheb Pagara here.
He said that people had left their homes are coming back and they were being provided relief goods by the government functionaries.
He said that he himself on Sunday visited the affected areas of Orangi Town where situation was improving. Besides Rangers, Police, 250 FC men have been deployed while rest was on its way from Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
Malik further revealed that 87 terrorists have been arrested from the affected areas and further revealed that terrorists are using children and elders as human shield. “Therefore, we keep on changing our strategy,” he added.
Moreover, he said the intelligence sources have also revealed that some terrorists are operating on the directives of those already in jails.
“We are trying to trace their communication system,” he added.
He said the President and Prime Minister have given instructions for zero tolerance in action against terrorists to bring peace in Karachi.
To a question, Rehman Malik said that there will be complete and strategic targeted operation in the disturbed areas where necessary without any discrimination.
“Enemies want to destabilise economic hub of the country but the government will foil all such conspiracies with the help of the people and media,” he pointed out. The Interior Minister said that he visited Kingri House specially to seek guidance from today’s one of most senior politician and with messages of well wishes by the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
He himself was working with the leadership of MQM, ANP, JUI and particularly Pir Saheb Pagara and they all have supported efforts of the government to restore peace in the metropolis which is backbone of the country. Rehman Malik said that there are some politicians and even media personnel who are giving irresponsible statements which is regrettable and they should desist in giving such statements.
He also regretted the criticism of the role of the Army, Rangers and Police and said they are those force of our country who are frontline defenders to protect the country on border areas and violatile urban areas by sacrificing their lives to protect civilians. The Minister said that it was on the requisition of the provincial government that Rangers was deployed in Karachi.
“Government and Federal Government have full backing of the actions of Rangers who have no been given powers that of Police.” “Government is fully determined to protect the life and property of the people and it is our prime responsibility to bring peace not only in Karachi but across the country,” he added. Later, in his brief remarks, Pir Saheb Pagaro, also expressed serious concern over law and order situation in the city and hoped that saner elements will sought out the issue and bring peace.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik Saturday urged all political parties to get in concert for peace and betterment of the city, stressing that the operation would continue until the situation got back on track.
Talking to media along with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) after having a meeting with him at Kingri House here, he said Karachities were facing a very difficult situation in the city amid violence spate.
On this occasion, he vowed to take strict action against miscreants regardless of their political affiliations, adding the Rangers were in complete control of situation around Kati Pahari areas.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP) are playing their part, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Pir Pagara said, “I demand the deployment of military for improvement in the situation,” adding his demand for commissionerate system had been fulfilled. Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) on Saturday filed an application in the Sindh Assembly secretariat for requisitioning a special session of the Sindh Assembly to discuss the failing law and order situation in Karachi, killings of innocent citizens, firings on the commuters in transport buses, and deepening electricity crisis among other important issues.
The requisition application has been signed by 45 MPAs of the MQM including the leader of the opposition Jam Madad Ali.
The MQM MPAs also staged a protest demonstration in the premises of the Sindh Assembly building over the continuing incidents of targeted killings and the deaths of innocent people in the city. Speaking on the occasion leader of the MQM Mr Raza Haroon said that the special session of the assembly has been requisitioned with a view to discussing critical issues such as killing of innocent citizens and complete freedom with which the terrorists were operating in the city. Mr Haroon said that the assembly should be convened immediately so that important issues are discussed and the real situation is placed before the people.
Speaking about the restoration of commissionerate system Mr Haroon said that the MQM had a clear stance over the issue. The commissionerate system was a big obstacle in the way of empowering the people at the grassroots level.
Pir Pagara seeks Army help
KARACHI – The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Pir Sahib Pagara has said that the military should be called in Karachi to control worsening law and order situation in the city.
“The situation in Karachi is unsatisfactory. When the military will arrive in Karachi, the people of the city will adopt to the new situation,” Pir Pagara said while taking to media persons along with Interior Minister after a meeting at the Kingri House on Saturday.
He said the PML-F had demanded restoration of commissionerate system in Karachi from the government, which has been accepted.
“In the past the first class magistrate was empowered to order shoot at sight owing to bad security situation but now even a third class magistrate can’t do it,” he said.
To a question, Pir Sahib Pagara said Rehman Malik does not need the guidance of anyone as he himself guides others.
Speaking on the occasion, Rehman Malik urged all political parties to play role for maintaining peace and law and order in the Karachi, stressing that targeted action against the miscreants in the mega city would continue till the situation returns to normalcy.
The minister said people of Karachi were facing a very difficult situation due to recent spate of violence.
He vowed to take strict action against miscreants disregarding their political affiliations, adding that the Rangers were in complete control of situation around Kati Pahari area.
Rehman Malik said he received information that some miscreants were carrying out violence in the city from the jails by using cell phones. He said the matter is under investigation as to how these miscreants used cell phones in jails and who provided them the phones.
Malik said the government was aware to the plight of the people and was taking action to control the situation. He said the government would chase terrorists till their complete elimination.
He said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP) were playing their role to maintain law and order situation in the Karachi. To a question, Pir Sahib Pagara said Rehman Malik does not need the guidance of anyone as he himself guides others.
However, he regretted that some leaders were resorting to point scoring over Karachi killings. He said some leaders were giving irresponsible statements over Karachi situation for point scoring. “These leaders should sit with us to find solution to the problem,” he added.– Agencies – Dailymailnews
