ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday ordered the police to launch crackdowns in Bhara Kahu, Sabzi Mandi and Tarnol in coordination with the intelligence agencies.

Though the minister did not mention who would be targeted during the crackdowns, it was presumed that criminals, suspected terrorists and those running brothels, gambling and narcotics dens would be flushed out.

While issuing the directions, the minister gave a reference to a report on the attack at the district and sessions court and stated, “The terrorists had come from Sabzi Mandi and targeted the court building.”

The police were given one month for the crackdowns in the three areas. The minister also asked the police to involve Nadra in the operation.

The directions were issued at a meeting which was called over the escape of a woman from the police custody. She had been held on the charge of running a brothel in the capital.

The minister said the woman had been running the brothel for the last 20 years. She was taken to the district and sessions court from where she escaped. The minister asked the police officers to remove the station house officer (SHO) of the area along with the investigation officer of the case.

Later, the Karachi Company police rearrested the woman during a raid at a house located in F-10, the police said, adding those who had given her shelter would also arrested soon.

“Politicisation is the biggest issue for the police but during the last two years the police were never influenced for the transfer and posting of the officers,” the minister said.

“The loyalty of the police should always be with the state, not the government,” he added.

“I am not asking for anything wrong but the police should work according to their rules and the constitution.”

He said there was no change in the attitude of the police stations, and people were still afraid of approaching the police for the resolution of their issues.

He also asked the senior officers to take action against those SHOs and other officials who were allegedly involved in corruption and cases had been registered against them. Such officials should be removed from their posts, he added.

Read more: *Accused woman escapes while cop makes photocopies*

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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