The Sindh government on Saturday accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of involvement in offences ranging from extortions to deadly bomb blasts in the provincial capital.
Speaking with journalists at the Federation House following a meeting with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) members, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said the provincial government was holding talks with British authorities to acquire modern anti-terrorism equipment for police, which would also be imparted advanced training to effectively deal with terrorist threats.
The chief minister was scheduled to meet the FPCCI members at 11.30am, but he arrived at the Federation House two hours late at 1.30pm. This annoyed the journalists who ultimately boycotted the event, but then returned after the chief minister and FPCCI Acting President Iqbal Dawood Pakwala apologised for the delay.
Speaking about the TTP’s alleged role in violence in Karachi, the chief minister said that for last six to eight months, more than half of the unlawful activities had been perpetrated by the TTP.
Terming the overall security situation in Karachi and interior Sindh as “relatively better”, Shah said that over 100 TTP men, including some key leaders had been arrested by security agencies in recent months. He said the authorities had issued challans against 80 of those arrested. He further alleged the TTP of involvement in 50 percent of offences such as extortions, bombings, and kidnapping for ransom.
Asked if his government was convinced that TTP’s existence had warranted military action in the city, the chief minister replied in negative. “We think no military action is required as the police are showing results,” he said, adding that police and Rangers had already stepped up their activities in close collaboration with spy agencies. “The intelligence agencies are doing well and have pre-empted many terrorist acts at some of our very sensitive installations,” he said.
The chief minister further said that police were being given incentives, and his government would have inducted some 10,000 more policemen had the court not stayed the process through a judicial order.
Illustrating his government’s performance, Shah said hardened criminals, who had admitted to have murdered 40 to 50 people, had been arrested and brought before the courts for trial.
Giving comparative percentage of crimes in Karachi and interior Sindh, he said that incidents of extortion had dropped by 50 percent, kidnapping for ransom by 70 to 80 percent, while politically-motivated targeted killing had also seen a significant decrease. “We have fulfilled the traders’ demand for deploying at least 500 policemen in main centres like Kharadar, cloth market, Bunder, Jinnah Road etc,” the chief minister said.
Asked about militant wings in political parties, Shah said that his party – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – had no militant wing. “We condemn terrorism and have no militant wing. There is no such instance. Instead, we have lost many of our innocent workers to targeted killings,” he said.
Shah told a questioner that his government was legislating to protect witnesses in cases relating to targeted killings or extortions in the city. “No one comes up with the names; all talk generally. We would provide security to witnesses so convictions could be made,” the chief minister said.
When asked about the contradictory statements issued by the prime minister and the Sindh governor regarding the Baldia Town factory fire case, the chief minister said the matter was sub judice and should therefore not be commented on. “I have great respect for the prime minister and the governor, but as a lawyer I think that the matter is sub judice. So it should be decided in the court,” he added.
yes if TTP is governing the province, you should go home instead of pointing it to them! after five years you havent got the grips how to govern then why are you a CM of this province! Like rehman Malik, they dont understand, providing information is not their duty but to catch the culprits and punish them, thats what a real government do!
I fully agree with Qaim Ali Shah. TTP has carried out destruction of Pakistan in general and of Karachi the financial hub of Pakistan in particular. This brings into question the ability of the Federal govt and that of the Sindh govt,
in dealing with full force with the criminals of the TTP, the job is no doubt very difficult as PML(N), PTI and Jammat-e-Islami, are providing moral support to the TTP, but with detrmination it could be done. Nothing will be more tragic for the people of Sindh than the destruction of Karachi.
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