Target killers now worth Rs 1m each

The Sindh government on Friday announced a reward of Rs one million for anyone arresting or providing information leading to the arrest of notorious target killers in the city.
The decision was taken at a-high level meeting on law and order held at the Sindh Chief Minister’s House. The meeting was co-chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while high-ups from police and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) also attended the meeting.
“Each person, whether a policeman or common man, who will arrest or help in apprehending notorious target killers in Karachi will be rewarded Rs 1 million,” stated an official handout released after the meeting.
During the meeting, the participants expressed satisfaction over the ongoing operations against extortionists and miscreants and vowed to continue action during and after Eidul Fitr.
The chief minister said that round-the-clock report on city situation is being sent to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, separately.
It was informed at the meeting that law enforcement agencies arrested several suspects during Thursday-Friday night and recovered 71 weapons, including TT pistols and ammunition.
The chief minister was of the opinion that the city’s overall law and order situation has considerably improved due to the current actions of security forces, as normalcy has returned in the past few days with restoration of trade activities and markets are also seen open till late night.
SEARCH OPERATIONS: As search operations against ‘extortionists and target killers’ continued on Friday, over 200 suspects were arrested from different areas of the city by Pakistan Rangers and police personnel, while Interior Minister Malik assured the city’s business community that they will never face threats after the completion of an indiscriminate search operation against ‘extortionists and target killers.’
In the wee hours of Friday, security forces cordoned off Bilal Colony and Awami Colony in Korangi and launched a joint operation. The Rangers and police searched through all the houses, arresting 24 suspects.
Later, Malik visited the area and praised the efforts of the security forces.
“Operations are being conducted on intelligence information and will continue until the arrest of the killers,” he claimed.
He said the business community has been the worst affected by terrorism and assured them that after the completion of indiscriminate search operations, they will not face any threats from extortionists.
In another operation in Pak Colony, the Rangers arrested more than 113 persons while also recovering weapons from their possession. However, area residents resorted to protesting against the operation.
In more joint search operations in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Khamiso Goth and Kati Pahari, Rangers and police personnel arrested more than 75 suspects.
The area residents said that security forces had only arrested some drug addicts to show their efficiency to the public.
Meanwhile, Sachal Rangers’ Brigadier Waseem told journalists that orders for search operations were received from the prime minister about five days ago. “We are providing help to the Karachi police in conducting search operations. We did not face resistance during any operation and arrested suspects and recovered weapons from them.”
However, Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh President Shahi Syed and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sindh Amir Mirajul Huda declared the operations as pressure tactics and poor efforts by the government.
“The operation is being conducted in Pakhtun-dominated areas just to appease an ally party of the government,” said the ANP leader, while talking to Pakistan Today. “We condemn such type of efforts from the government.”
The JI leader said that the government has no interest in normalising the law and order situation of the city and is only passing time until the elections for Senate.
“Each and every citizen of Karachi knows very well who is behind terrorism in the city. How is it possible that the government and the security agencies are unaware of the situation?”
BOMB DEFUSED: The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused a 10-kg bomb on Friday that was delivered to a resident in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Reportedly, an unidentified courier had delivered a 10-kg parcel intended for Zaidul Abideen at an address in Block 2 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar opposite the University of Karachi. When the person returned home from his duty, he became suspicious of the parcel and immediately informed the BDS.
BDS head Abid Farooq told Pakistan Today that the bomb was Russian-made and was defused successfully.