KARACHI, July 17: IGP Syed Kamal Shah on Saturday said that Rangers might be asked to assist police in the operation launched against criminals in Lyari Town, where about 300 police personnel, including 100 commandos, were deployed.

"The operation has been launched to rid the residents of the area of drug barons and criminals. SHOs of all four police stations in the are have been asked to identify 'black sheep' under their command," he said, adding: "I have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the SHOs and the ultimatum expires on Saturday evening."

Talking to newsmen after the 59th passing out parade at Police Training Centre, Saeedabad, he said all efforts would be made to clear the area. He said that police were making progress in the operation against Arshad Pappu and his gang members.

It may be mentioned here that the operation has been launched on Friday following increased activities of two rival gangs, one led by Arshad Pappu and the other by Rehman Dakait. For a few weeks, certain localities of Lyari Town had been the scene of the infighting between the two gangs of the drug barons and terrorists operating in the town for many years. The gang war has already claimed lives of many innocent people.

The IGP told the newsmen that police had taken control of many buildings, including the one used by Pappu as his residence.

There were a total of 17 buildings under Pappu's control where kidnap victims, after being taken hostage, used to be kept and tortured, he said.

Pappu's four close aides had also been arrested and many suspects taken into custody for interrogation, he added.

Mr Shah maintained that the task of clearing Lyari of criminals and drug pushers had been assigned to TPO Javed Baloch.

"It is for the first time that situation is under the control of police as area people are cooperating with law-enforcement agencies," he said.

The IGP pointed out that there were 28 cases of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping for ransom, etc., registered against Arshad Pappu.