Nawaz reviews strategy for peace in Karachi

E-Paper | March 05, 2026

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday chaired a high-level meeting here as part of continuing consultations on a strategy and modalities for a foolproof mechanism to rid the country, especially Karachi, of lawlessness and terrorism.

Director General Rangers Maj-Gen Rizwan Akhtar apprised the prime minister of the operational and strategic aspects to curb extortion, kidnapping, terrorism and targeted killings in the port city.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed satisfaction on the progress, said a Press Information Department press release.

“Extraordinary circumstances require a sustained response of law enforcement machinery for bringing back peace in Karachi as policies do not change on a daily basis,” he said.

Sharif reiterated his government's principled commitment to provide all possible assistance to the provincial government to restore confidence of the citizens of Karachi in law enforcement agencies.

He directed the authorities concerned to expedite the process to remove flaws in the prosecution system to ensure foolproof security to citizens and a sustained deterrence against the criminals. Essential amendments to law, following guidelines of superior courts, were also directed by the premier.

Prime Minister Sharif also directed the quarters concerned to finalise the strategy in consultation with the operators to block unregistered and illegal mobile phone SIMs.

The meeting also discussed agenda of the multi-party conference (MPC), which has been called for September 9. The conference is aimed at evolving consensus on a counter-terrorism strategy as well as the law and order situation of Karachi.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

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Arif

Sep 07, 2013 09:19pm

Law should be amended for those people who are engage in crime, extortion, kidnapping, terrorism and targeted killings looting, Minimum sentence should be 30 years or as per Law of Sheria public hanging.

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Nizamuddin Ali Ahmad

Sep 08, 2013 01:21am

Ranger is not the solution, they are the problem. Most of the rangers in Karachi are rude, with no manners and hostole towards Karachites.

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Imran

Sep 08, 2013 10:15am

I am not sure what after govts are waiting for since 1980s when this story started. We all know and its like a bright sun that nearly all the political parties are having their armed wings. We all know that some parties are even having slogan 'we dont want Pakistan we want Sindhu Desh' written on the walls of Karachi. whole city knows where they live. You can see this chalking on walls near Kirran Hospital. So what else do you need to prove to clean off such Anti-Pakistan parties? According to my knowledge and as per law, acting against the country is illegal and punishable. So what else do you expect to happen to punish such guys and ban them from the Country itself? Throw them in the country from where they are getting support. Parties which are ban their leaders are still roaming around freely like Pakistan is their drawing room. What type of security we are haiving? This is call a Lawless country. Its not country's fault, its govts and security authorities fault. Security agencies should be independent of governments pressure. NO need of 'GO-AHEAD' signal. This means that they were under pressure from previous Govts, asking not to act and let the lawlessness grow !! Isnt it?

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khanm

Sep 08, 2013 12:45pm

I wonder sometimes if our government will ever provides foolproof security to its citizens. May be they are keeping a couple of agencies as fool proof test like rangers and police. It could be a fool proof test of their pay roll. With due respect Mr. prime minister your priority did not seem to be to teach them what you knew, but rather to impress upon them that nothing, not even... knowledge, was foolproof.

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Anneeq

Sep 08, 2013 05:20pm

I understand that it's traditional for ppl to be skeptical about anything the government does, we really need to get together now. This ultra negative mentality we have of our security forces is not healthy and say what u want about Nawaz Sharif but at least he's really putting in an effort to change things. U may say 'oh the security forces are corrupt thisl come to nothing' well they have to start from somewhere, the people of Karachi should give this opperation a chance. Afterall this negativity is only going to benefit the mafias and indeed the corrupt......

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Gerry D'Cunha

Sep 09, 2013 01:03pm

APC will have no impact on the situation of karachi until the govt is not sincere to dish out criminal elements serving in the police and rangers

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Ahmed

Sep 09, 2013 04:13pm

@Nizamuddin Ali Ahmad: Agree, rangers should be trained that how to behave with citizens of he the most literate city.

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munaeem

Sep 10, 2013 11:21am

Police reform is needed. Honest officers should be provided job security and benefits.

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