KARACHI: With the targeted operation entering its ninth month, the law-enforcement agencies appear to have become more than ever aggressive in chasing suspected criminals and engaging them in deadly ‘encounters’, clocking up more than 360 killings — one of the highest figures in the city’s shootout history — in eight months, it emerged on Thursday.

The police themselves paid the price for their action by losing 60 of their men in the line of duty who were mostly targeted when they were on patrol though a few were killed in encounters with militants, bandits, gangsters and other criminals.

Figures released by the Karachi police to share their ‘performance’ from Sept 5, 2013 to May 5, 2014 showed a total of 1,277 ‘encounters’ leading to the arrest of some 1,000 ‘heinous crime’ suspects and killing of 253 others.

Suspects gunned down by paramilitary Rangers numbered 115.

The suspects were wanted in ‘heinous crimes’ from murders to ‘terrorism acts’ and kidnapping for ransom to extortion.

While the police ‘performance’ has brought down the number of killings on sectarian, ethnic and political grounds to a large extent, it has raised questions about the growing number of deadly encounters drawing criticism from human rights activists.

Zohra Yusuf of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan told Dawn that such a high figure of killings in ‘encounters’ acknowledged by the law-enforcement agencies was highly alarming. The killings also confirmed our worst fears over the Karachi operation, she said.

The performance, however, indicates law-enforcement agency’s strategy to some extent.

“The situation describes police strategy,” said the spokesman for the Karachi police when asked about the reasons behind an unprecedented surge in deadly encounters which left 253 suspects dead.

“The current leadership of the Karachi and Sindh police has focused more on training and capacity building of the serving policemen, considering the challenges and ongoing targeted operation, which has resulted in better firing skills and much better reaction time of our policemen challenging the criminals.”

He said the number of deadly encounters increased because of active policing, consistent surveillance of criminals by the police in respective areas and round-the-clock readiness by the law-enforcement agency while they patrol streets.

“There is no shoot-at-sight order. The number of killings in encounters rose only because criminals face much stronger and quicker reaction from the police party whenever they challenge it. The encounters were also held in the past but a sluggish response from the police party helped suspects to escape unhurt,” he added.

With threats ranging from terrorist attacks to deadly gun battles with gangsters, street criminals and hit men associated with political groups looming large, the Karachi police have been passing through the most challenging phase of their history.

The institution has lost some 60 personnel in 2014 alone and 107 since the launch of the targeted operation in Karachi.

“The police contribution and sacrifices can help in explaining their performance. Gone are the days when the police were challenged while conducting snap checking, attacked during raids and suffered losses while maintaining the writ of law only due to lack of training and willingness. Major focus on training of shooting, policing skills and handling day to day policing affairs help our personnel to give better results,” added the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2014