KARACHI – To eliminate targeted killing from the city, the government has adopted a two-pronged strategy under which it is contacting political parties and also taking administrative measures, said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. He said this at a press conference after presiding over a meeting regarding the law and order situation at the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday. This was the first meeting of the chief minister holding the portfolio of the Home Department, after Dr Zulfiqar Mirza went on a leave last week
Speaking at the press conference, Shah said the government has asked all political parties in the city to play due role in stopping incidents of target killings and not to support criminal elements for the sake of peace. The police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have been directed to take action against criminal elements irrespective of their political affiliations, he added.
“Establishing peace is the government’s priority and it would not allow criminal elements, even if they are using the name of PPP or any other party,” said the chief minister. Shah claimed that a considerable decrease in targeted killings has already been witnessed in a week and the situation would hopefully improve further in the coming days. When asked whether Mirza would be handed over the Home Ministry on his return, the chief minister replied that the issue would be taken up after a month when the former minister had returned.
However, he added, the government was taking the same measures which Mirza had taken for maintaining law and order. “Around 129 persons have been killed in incidents of target killings since January this year while about 80 percent culprits involved in these incidents have also been apprehended and sent for prosecution,” said Shah, adding that investigation is underway in seven cases.
Appreciating the performance of police and other LEAs, the chief minister said that around 65 crime cases were registered since the beginning of March. The LEAs have also arrested seven terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashkar-e-Balochistan and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan while recovering a large quantity of arms and ammunition, he added.
