Karachi to see partial curfew, commandos airdrop

By Imtiaz Ali

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday that a partial curfew would be imposed in Karachi to control target killings. Talking to reporters at the airport here, he said a semi-curfew would be imposed in parts of the city to control the killings. He did not explain the areas where the curfew will be imposed, or its timings.

Malik blamed a third party for involvement in the acts of violence. "The PPP, MQM and the ANP are united to expose the forces involved in target killings," he added. Separately, a high-level meeting decided to conduct aerial monitoring of troubled areas in Karachi in the daytime and airdrop commandos for effective action against terrorists and criminals.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister's House, was jointly presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. It was also decided that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would join the police and Rangers to control target killings. The meeting was informed that some suspects came from abroad and took part in recent target killings in the city. Some of them returned while others had disappeared, according to an official handout.

The meeting decided that strict action would be taken against the users of snatched/stolen mobile phonesbecause it had been proved that terrorists and criminals were using such mobile phones. Warnings have been issued to mobile phone agencies and agents to follow the rules; otherwise, action would be taken against them under the anti-terrorism law.

Deployment of police and Rangers will be enhanced in the troubled areas where pillion riding will be banned at night. Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) will also be checked. Checking at all airports, especially, the Karachi Airport will be increased to keep a strict vigil on elements who enter the country to carry out their nefarious activities. The meeting instructed the FIA to strengthen monitoring in this regard.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that the recent target killings were a conspiracy against the current elected government. The Sindh chief minister informed the meeting that several suspects allegedly involved in recent killings had been arrested and were being investigated. He said strict steps should be taken to maintain law and order as per the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari. He said the provincial government was determined to eliminate target killings. Qaim Ali Shah said effective planning was being made in view of the information received from the detained suspects.

Rehman Malik said the Sindh Home Department and the police had demonstrated improved performance and more steps would be taken, if needed. He told the meeting that certain elements were allegedly involved in creating a rift among the coalition partners - the PPP, MQM and the ANP, but their designs would be foiled.

The minister expressed his gratitude to MQM chief Altaf Hussain and ANP chief Asfandyar Wali for assuring their cooperation to maintain law and order in the city. He said both leaders had urged their workers and the people to remain peaceful and live in harmony. Malik stressed for unity and harmony among political leadership.

Sindh IG Babar Khattak, Karachi CCPO Fayaz Leghari and other senior officials of law enforcement agencies and the police attended the meeting.Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Malik also held a separate meeting to discuss targeted killings and the law and order situation in the city. They reviewed the steps being taken for security of life and property.