KARACHI: Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan has said people involved in Karachi bus attack are in focus and some arrests have been made in this regard. However, he said it would be pre mature to say that we have reached the actual attackers.
Talking to newsmen in Karachi on Monday afternoon, he said investigations into Safoora Chowrangi incident are progressing well.
“Interrogation from the arrested persons is very positive and there are indications that we are on the right track” the Minister said.
He held out an assurance that the culprits would be brought to book. He emphasised that it is a multi-faceted dimension case and we will have to hold intensive investigation to reach the bottom of the tragedy.
The Interior Minister said the war against terrorism and militancy is not easy as it is not a T20 or 50 overs match as Pakistan is facing the menace of terrorism for the last 14 years and no attention was given to deal with it.
He asked the people of Pakistan and Karachi to analyse the level of terrorism when the PML-N government took over in 2013 and today. He said at that time on average five to seven blasts were taking place across the country on daily basis and now there are no blasts for weeks because of the hard work of security agencies, police and other concerned departments.
The Minister said more than ten thousand intelligence based operations have been conducted in different parts of the country since June last year when operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched. Over thirty-six thousand arrests have also been made during the period and this would give a clear understanding to the people how much blasts were stopped and how many lives saved.
He said over three thousand intelligence based operation have been carried out since December last year when National Action Plan NAP was launched. He said credit for this goes to armed forces that carried out operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, FC in Balochistan. He said there is a visible improvement in law and order but warned that those playing with the blood have not been completely eliminated because some have been killed or arrested and others have gone into hiding including in villages and far flung areas.
Nisar said because of the effectiveness of the operations, the enemy is targeting softest targets now but assured that those targeting innocent people will meet their fate.
The Interior Minister said important decisions have been taken in today’s meeting in Karachi to tackle the security challenges. He said some of the decisions would be made public after another important meeting to be held in Islamabad.
Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said there are over three hundred private security agencies working in Karachi employing thousands of personnel. Their job is to complement and supplement the work of our civil armed forces but they are not doing the required job. He said some of the Agencies guards were witness to Safoora Chowk incident but they revised even having seen it. He said the government will review the security agencies policy in a transparent way to make them accountable.
He said he also discussed for the formulation of a uniform arms license policy in Karachi with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and it was decided to reach at a decision at the meeting of all the Chief Ministers.
He said the pain of Karachi incident has been felt across Pakistan and there is extreme anger and hatred for the terrorists. He however said that we must show unity when such incidents of terrorism take place because the enemy wants to create division and disappointment in the country. He appealed the media to defeat the agenda of the enemy and assured that Inshallah we will win this war by plugging the weaknesses.
He said the Federal government, military, provincial governments, civil armed forces are working day and night to make Pakistan peaceful.
Replying to a question about involvement of RAW, the Interior Minister said it is premature to say that we have reached a definite conclusion. Investigation into Safoora incident are going on three dimensions and three to four arrests made have given some openings. He asked the media to show some patience,
To a query, he said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has completed its investigation from the Moazzam Ali a prime suspect in the MQM’s leader Dr. Imran Farooq murder case.
Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan visited Rangers Headquarters Karachi.
DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar briefed him about the Safoora incident and other acts of terrorism.
On this occasion, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lauded the role of Rangers in maintaining law and order in Karachi.
He said that the incidents of target killing have been reduced in the city due to better performance of Rangers. He also visited Yadgar-e-Shuhada and offered Fateha.
DG Rangers expressed the resolve that the terrorists would be brought to justice at all costs.
The Interior Minister also held separate meetings with Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in Karachi.
Important issues including law and order situation in Karachi came under discussion.
INP