Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday vowed to continue targeted operation against miscreants in Lyari, the hub of criminal gangs and stronghold of ruling Pakistan People’s Party.
Talking to reporters, Malik said action against the banned People’s Aman Committee and other criminals would go on in Lyari. He said police and rangers would take part in selected operation in Lyari against gangsters, adding that the rest of areas would be untouched. “We want to give security to the people of Lyari who very well know who their enemy is,” he said, adding that the government would continue to take such steps for the safety of innocent citizens. The interior minister ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the Aman Committee, saying the government had fulfilled its promise to clear Lyari of criminals. Malik said if the criminals of Lyari trusted Nawaz Sharif, they could send Punjab police instead. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would make a major blunder if it included Uzair Baloch in the party.
Malik said criminals would not be allowed to take Lyari hostage. He vowed that captured criminals would be presented before the media, adding that names of Lyari gang war suspects had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL). He said President Asif Ali Zardari was worried about the situation in Lyari and had ordered the release of funds for the area. “Rangers and police have been directed to provide compensation to the people of Lyari,” he said. To a query, he said criminals could not disguise themselves in any political party. Malik said he did not know Uzair Baloch, but he (Uzair) would be provided justice if he faced cases against him. Earlier, the interior minister and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah jointly chaired a high-level meeting in Karachi. Sources said the meeting reviewed law and order in Sindh, especially in Karachi, where a police operation against alleged criminals in Lyari ended inconclusively on Friday.
The interior minister advised all political parties and groups to stay away from alleged criminal groups in Lyari and support the government’s efforts to maintain peace and security in the city. “Political parties’ contacts with the criminals in Lyari will encourage lawlessness and such a move can be questioned according to law of land,” Malik said. Also on Sunday, nationalist parties of Sindh continued protests against the Lyari operation in various districts of the province. Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and Sindh United Party (SUP) jointly organized a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club. Protest demonstrations against Lyari operation were also held in Nawabshah under the auspicious of Baloch Ittehad and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Similar rallies were also organized in other areas of interior Sindh, including Sakrand, Thatta, Badin, Nowsheroferoz, Moro, Kandyaro and Dariya Khan Marri. Pakistan People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Larkana also staged a protest rally and sit in at Jinah Bagh Chowk and Larkana Press Club against the Lyari operation and killing of innocent Baloch people in Karachi.
Malik says targeted operation in Lyari to continue
