ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that if needed, the army could be called in to handle the Karachi in situation. He was talking to the media outside the parliament house. “There is no operation under way in Karachi and the government has no intention to take such initiative either”, he said.
He, however, did not rule out the possibility of calling out the army if the situation demanded so. He said that the law-enforcement agencies were only taking targeted action in the city to improve law and order situation. Commenting on the Karachi killings, he said the government was committed to restoring peace in the city. He blamed that the northern parts of the country were ‘fuelling continued terrorism’.
Malik disclosed that the law-enforcement agencies have arrested ‘terrorists planning to kill leaders of MQM, ANP and PPP and the journalists. “The law-enforcement agencies have seized weapons including four suicide jackets, hand grenades and rocket launchers being smuggled to vitiate law and order situation in the city,” he added.
Malik said arms smuggled from Afghanistan were being used in terror incidents in the county. He said the government would take up the issue of weapons’ smuggling with Afghanistan. “Terrorism can only be countered in an effective way when weapons supply from Afghanistan stops,” he said.
Commenting on the assassination of journalist Wali Babar in Karachi, Malik said the people behind the killing would be brought to justice.
Army can be called into Karachi, says Malik
