ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan met President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday night and apprised him of steps being taken by the provincial government to restore peace and normalcy in Karachi.
According to an official handout, the president said that extortionists and criminal elements must be caught and brought to justice regardless of their political affiliation. He said the action against criminals killing innocent citizens should be across the board.
Sources in the Presidency told Dawn that the home minister had informed the president that a number of arrests had been made during search operations in different parts of the city.
As Karachi witnessed a semblance of peace, law enforcement agencies launched search operations in strife-hit areas of the city on Wednesday and rounded up 14 suspects.
The pre-dawn operation was conducted by Rangers and police for the first time after the week-long violence has claimed over 100 lives. It continued during the day.
The law-enforcers moved into Qasba Colony, Kati Pahari, Muhammad Colony and other parts of Orangi Town, Baloch Para area of PIB Colony, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Pehalwan Goth and Khameeso Goth of Malir. However, they retreated from the city’s oldest neighbourhood of Lyari because of resistance by area people.
According to a statement issued by Sindh Rangers, the suspects were arrested in different parts of the city. It said Rangers seized 79 weapons of different kinds, chemicals used in arson attacks, drugs, documents relating to extortion money and vehicles without registration plates.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik jointly presided over a meeting held at the CM House to review the law and order situation in the province, particularly in Karachi.
The chief minister said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had fully supported the provincial government’s action against criminals. “It is our joint responsibility to come up with a clear message to criminals and anti-social elements that they will not be spared.”
He asked the authorities concerned to present him every morning a report on results and achievements of the action.
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