News
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Target killings: Grand operation in Karachi in the offing* List of 300 ‘troublemakers’ prepared
By Faraz Khan
KARACHI: Intelligence agencies have prepared a list of as many as 300 people - including activists of some political parties and banned religious outfits - who might be involved in disrupting the law and order situation in Karachi, and a grand operation for their arrests might be carried out in the near future, Daily Times learnt on Wednesday.
Following the increasing targeted killings in the city, intelligence agencies were asked by the federal government to prepare a list of people involved in these incidents.
Earlier, they were directed to maintain a list of suspects involved in disturbing the peace of the city, and the officials concerned were directed to obtain details and prepare a list of suspects in their respective jurisdictions.
Over the recent incidents of targeted killing, the agencies were asked to produce the list, which the officials have prepared and sent to the high-ups.
In the report sent to the Federal Interior Ministry, the officials said these suspects were dangerous and disturbing the peace of the city.
Declaring the suspects “a threat to the city”, the officials said their activities should be monitored or they should be arrested.
The report informed the high-ups about automatic weapons and ammunition, as well as the suspects’ hideouts, and their political, non-political and sectarian links.
It should be mention here that as many as 20 police jurisdictions have already been declared sensitive due to political and ethnic violence.
Sources said most suspects whose names are on the list are basically criminals involved in various crimes and they also have political backing.
It is pertinent to mention here that police high-ups have informed the media about the political motives behind the targeted killings and they have also found all security measures futile due to non-cooperation of political parties in stopping such incidents.
Police have arrested some suspects who might be involved in targeted killings.
In a joint interrogation, these suspects admitted their affiliations with political parties.
Police and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies are trying to launch a crackdown against political activists involved in targeted killings, but so far they have seemingly failed to take any action despite the availability of the list of suspects.
After a decision in a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on May 21, as many as 1,000 personnel of Sindh police’s Special Protection Group have been deputed in the entire city, especially in the 100 sensitive areas affected by the recent politico-ethnic violence.
According to the data compiled by law enforcement agencies, at least 92 people affiliated with political and banned religious outfits have been gunned down in various incidents of the targeted killing in the present year, while various others were also killed.
The data said the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi lost 31 people, Muttahida Qaumi Movement 24, Awami National Party 16, Pakistan People’s Party seven; while 14 other victims belonged to the Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk