KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal said on Monday that the provincial government was not considering winding up the Karachi operation.

Speaking at the Meet the Press programme of the Karachi Press Club, the minister, who is a Pakistan Peoples Party nominee, said that the operation was launched against terrorists and criminals and it would continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.

He said that police and Rangers were jointly carrying out the operation in Karachi and it was wrong to say that the role of the police had been restricted to a mere backup force because the Rangers had taken a leading role.

“The police and Rangers are working side by side in Karachi while in the interior of Sindh it is the police who are after terrorists, criminals and dacoits and during encounters many police officials laid down their lives,” he added.

In response to a question whether the Sindh government was going to issue red warrants against Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, the home minister replied that it was the domain of the federal government.

“However, if courts directly ordered the Sindh government, we would certainly comply with it,” he added.

He said that the army would also be available during the month of Muharram to provide backup, if needed, to police and Rangers for maintenance of law and order. “In this connection we have written a letter to the federal government and got a very positive response from the army which will be available for backup.”

In reply to another question, the home minister said that the total strength of the Sindh police was 67,000 and 26,000 of them would be deputed in Karachi during Muharram.

Mr Siyal said that the Sindh government despite limited resources, continued to increase the police force purely on merit.

Regarding reports about involvement of some policemen in crimes, he said that the departmental inquiry against such policemen was a continuous process.

The efforts to bring about improvement in police performance was a continuous process as there was always provision for better performance in every department, he added.

Regarding upcoming local government elections, he said the general election 2013 was also conducted under the supervision of the Rangers and police and as such there would be no problem in conducting the LG polls in a peaceful atmosphere.

Earlier, KPC secretary A.H. Khanzada welcomed the home minister, while President Fazil Jameeli and other members presented a bouquet and the traditional gift of Ajrak to the guest speaker.

Published in Dawn, October 6th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play