As the assassins showed a red cloth to the law enforcers by killing policemen, the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) reiterated Sunday their resolve to keep up with Karachi operation till the “last criminal” is sent behind the bar.
Also, the CID police west Sunday claimed to have arrested eight suspected members of the banned outfits including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a search operation from Orangi Town neighbourhood.
Further, the Sindh police have placed Rs 5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of culprits involved in Saturday’s killing of policemen. According to police spokesman Inspector Atiq Shaikh, the police in targeted action arrested some suspects with regard to Saturday’s shootout in Landhi.
Asked if the arrestees were really involved, the spokesman said: “No. Nothing like that is heard so far.”
“Interrogation is ongoing to establish their involvement in the policemen’s killing,” the spokesman told Pakistan Today.
Shaikh said the CID police also had detained eight suspected members of the prescribed militant organisations including the TTP. “Most of the arrested hail from Waziristan and belong to Mehsud tribe,” he added.
The suspects, he said, had arrived in the city just a few days back. A source at the CID headquarters, however, said the intelligence agencies were suspicious of anyone named Mehsud and that those arrested might not have links with the militants.
In a separate statement, Pakistan Rangers also claimed to have arrested 37 “hardened criminals” in targeted raid in different city neighbourhoods.
A spokesman of Rangers said the para-military force raided Rehmat Chowk – Orangi, Sarhad Ittehad Colony, Liaqatabad, Banaras, Sharafi Goth, Majeed Colony, Dawood Challi – Landhi and Saif Goth areas Saturday night.
“A search and cordon operation was conducted against the elements of defunct groups in Frontier Colony and Metroville – SITE areas this morning,” he added.
In the above actions, the spokesman said, some 37 people including Lyari gang war elements, criminals affiliated with political groups and members of defunct organisations involved in heinous crimes were arrested.
The Rangers also claimed to have recovered 60 weapons including SMGs, rifles and mixed ammunition from the suspects.
Meanwhile, the city police vowed to remain unshaken by recent deadly attacks on the law enforcers.
“Operations shall continue,” Additional IG Police Karachi Shahid Hayat told a high command meeting he chaired here at police headquarters Sunday.
The meeting among others was attended by all the DIGPs directly involved in the Karachi Operation, said police spokesman Inspector Atiq Ahmed Shaikh.
The city police chief’s statement came in the wake of Saturday’s grenade and armed attacks Saturday night that saw six policemen perished in sectors 6 and 3-1/2 in Landhi area.
“Recent killing of police personnel cannot stop us from doing our job,” Hayat vowed. He said that Karachi operation shall go on till the apprehension of the last criminal, according to the policy.
The Add IG said come what may the police would not go back from its stance of fighting against criminal elements trying to destroy the city peace.
“We conducted several raids last night and arrested various suspects. We will do it again tonight and tomorrow,” he declared.
This, the police chief said, was not the first time when the police were being targeted like this.
There were attacks on police stations and even the Corp Commander Karachi was attacked, he recalled.
He said that in past many police personnel, prominent scholars, leaders and philanthropists were shot dead.
But Karachi police was finally able to bring the situation back to normal. “We should do it again,” Hayat told his officers and added that “Keep faith.”
Meanwhile, Sunday afternoon witnessed the funeral prayers held at PHQ Garden for six police personnel killed in Landhi.
After the last rituals, city police chief Hayat announced a reward of Rs 5 million for anyone who could lead the police to arrest the culprits behind attacks.
Hayat said besides funeral expenses the families of slain policemen would get Rs 2 million, job for a family member and the widows would be paid the salaries of their spouses for lifetime.
