ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday hoped that the All Parties Conference (APC) would pass a consensus resolution setting future strategy on security.

Addressing a press conference here, the minister said leaders of all the major parties in parliament would take part in the APC, which would start at 11 a.m on Monday at the Prime Minister House.

“It is a matter of satisfaction that the leadership of all parties has agreed to attend the meeting. Four leaders were scheduled to go abroad, however, they have either postponed or cancelled their trips,” he added.

He said after an initial statement from the Prime Minister, the Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Chief of Army Staff would brief the political leadership about the overall security situation in Pakistan.

The minister said that he had held discussions with the leaders and hoped that a comprehensive resolution would be passed at the APC.

He appreciated the political leadership for its patriotism and extending cooperation to the government on issues of vital national importance.

Chaudhry Nisar said the Rangers-led operation in Karachi was going well, with very active mobile patrolling.

Rangers had conducted 64 targetted raids while police had undertaken 80 raids arresting a large number of target killers and extortionists.

Weapons, including automatic guns, rifles, pistols, bombs, repeaters and live ammunition, were also recovered, he mentioned.

The minister said raids were conducted in areas of Landhi, Malir, Frontier Colony, Gizri, Jubilee Chowk, Colony Town and Yousaf Goth on the basis of lists of criminals provided by the intelligence agencies.

He said it was appreciable that during the last four days the rate of crimes, including target killings, extortion and kidnappings for ransom in Karachi, had come down by one third.

He said the federal government took the decision to take action in Karachi after extensive discussions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the people from all walks of life during his two-day visit to the provincial capital this week.

He said though the situation in Karachi was very difficult and complex, the civil armed forces led by Rangers were capable to handle the same.

"It would have been a mistake to bring the Army on streets of Karachi as it was already overstretched due to its deployment in various parts of the country," he added.

He assured that all needs of the law enforcement agencies would be fulfilled and the police would be revamped to improve its performance.

He said the Rangers already had the power to make arrests but now they could also investigate criminals and a committee led by Federal Minister Zahid Hamid had held a meeting to strengthen prosecution.

He said reports were not incorrect that criminal elements had fled to Dubai and South Africa as Rangers-led action began in Karachi.

He said that a comprehensive and integrated system of immigration centres would be in place to stop criminals from fleeing the country in future as well.