- Interior minister says police strictly forbidden from torturing and picking up suspects without informing their families
- Says no truth in Imran Khan’s claim that only 40 per cent success can be achieved in military operation
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the Karachi operation is targeted only against criminals and it would continue with more vigour to eliminate crime from the city.
Addressing a news conference‚ Nisar denied that the operation was directed against any specific party or group.
He said the federal government had told law enforcement agencies that the perception of “missing person” should end now and information about any arrested suspect must be given to his relatives. Nisar said the government had also decided to show zero tolerance to torture of suspects during police custody.
The minister said that no action would be carried out without uniforms. “If the Crime Investigation Ddepartment has powers to carry out operations in civilian clothes‚ such operations should be recorded and the details of actions should be sent to the Home Ministry,” he added.
Nisar said a committee has been formed to look into complaints of torture or picking up of suspects without any intimation to their families. He claimed that the targeted operation had shown good results in the first two months and police and Rangers were able to ensure 40 per cent success in crime control. However, violent reaction by criminals had slowed down the operation during January and February.
“But we have chalked out a new strategy which will produce positive results,” he said confidently.
Nisar said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has not demanded the removal of any specific person associated with the targeted operation in Karachi.
The interior minister also denied that the government or the armed forces had ever said that only 40 per cent success could be achieved if an operation was launched in the tribal areas.
“Imran Khan’s claim is unfounded. Our armed forces are fully capable of launching a successful operation against the terrorists,” he said.
