Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain expressed grave concern over the surge in target killing and violence in Karachi and termed it a conspiracy against integrity of the country.
A statement issues here on Saturday, Altaf Hussain strongly condemned target killing and said that anti-state elements wanted to destabilize the country which would not be allowed at all. He said that gunning down of innocent people belonging to a particular segment of society in the country after being pulled out from three passenger buses by armed terrorists at Babusar pass and ascertaining their identities was blatant terrorism and a conspiracy to fan sectarian violence in the country.
Rangers policing powers
extended for 3 months: The Sindh government has extended special powers for Pakistan Rangers in Karachi for another three months. A notification was issued here on Saturday in this connection. Over dozen people have been killed in different parts of the city in escalating violence. Under special powers Rangers have policing powers of conducting raids, arresting accused and keeping them in custody for interrogation Law enforcement agencies have not been able to contain ethnic and sectarian violence in the city so far. Meanwhile police claimed to have arrested four extortionists in different parts of the city.
More force called in to
control City situation: Police Chief, Iqbal Mahmood, Saturday said that additional force has been called to control the volatile situation of the city. He said that the additional force would be deployed by Saturday night and soon the alarming situation would be brought t to control. On the other hand, Sindh IG, Fayyaz Laghari took notice of the killing spree in the city and called for the report from the Karachi police chief. Earlier, SSP Central, Asim Qaimkhani said that six persons were wounded in firing at a hotel near Disco Mor. Of them five died during treatment identified as Zahoor, Sharjeel, Shaukat, Atif and Naveed while Hassan was injured.
IG orders strict implementation of Eid Contingency Plan: IG Sindh Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari has askedall supervisory police officers to ensure strict implementation of Eid-ul-Fitr Contingency Plan 2012 and monitor presence of deputed staff and surprise checking for the protection of citizens.
Presiding over a meeting, which reviewed the Eid-ul-Fitr Contingency Plan at his office here Saturday, he said that supervisory officers will not ensure their own presence in different areas but also hold random inspection of the presence of deputed officers and officials at deployment points. In addition, they will also hold regular briefing for deployed officials for various instructions, he added. On this occasion, the IG Sindh was informed that in total, about 8000 officers and jawans have been deployed in all three ranges of Karachi to provide protection to the people at Eid congregations, mosques and Imam Bargahs.
He was told that police squads have been deployed at 3328 mosques, Eidgahs and open areas, 257 Imam bargahs, 294 shopping centres and other public places.
The deployed forces included officials of police stations, Sindh Reserve Police, district head quarter police, Rapid Response Police and commandos of Muhafiz Force.
The meeting was told that police pickets have been installed to reinforce patrolling and checking, on the one hand, and random snap checking on busy roads.
In addition, police is conducting strict monitoring and search of all exit and entry points of the city and all hotels, motels, tea huts in the towns and far flung areas on daily basis.
The meeting was informed that walk through scanning gates have been installed at sensitive mosques, Eidgahs and Imambargahs while staff of Bomb Disposal Squad have been deployed for sweeping clearance.