KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, on Thursday offered an explanation that the Karachi operation has not slowed down and will continue till the arrest of the “last target-killer and terrorist” amid local government election campaigning that has seen the Muttahida Qaumi Movement reactivate its cadres in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The Rangers spokesman could not be contacted despite several attempts to know the background of the explanation made in a brief statement, sparking speculation about its timing and language. The statement referred to “a debate ... in the media” about the Karachi operation and categorically rejected it.

“A debate is going on in the media these days that the Karachi operation has slowed down,” said the statement. “It is explained here that the Karachi operation will continue in full swing till the arrest of the last terrorist and target-killer. The sacrifices of the operation’s martyrs and people will not go waste. The people are appealed to keep an eye on their surroundings and inform the Rangers helpline 1101 in case of any suspicious activity.”

The Karachi operation against “terrorists, gangsters and criminals” in the metropolis was launched in Sept 2013, but it gained momentum earlier this year when Rangers personnel raided the MQM’s headquarters Nine Zero in Azizabad and returned with claims of having arrested convicted criminals and seized arms meant for use by Nato troops in Afghanistan.

Episodes after the raid became more challenging for the MQM, which announced closing down of its offices across the city amid fading out of media coverage, disappearance of its key leaders from the national political scene and a kind of stop on party activities due to frequent arrest of workers.

But in the last couple of weeks the party has started re-emerging. A few corner meetings in connection with the coming LG elections in different localities have witnessed the same huge crowds listening to party leaders.

Like many, Zohra Yusuf of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) was also not sure about the reasons and timing of the Rangers statement, but saw it as a possible preemptive move by the paramilitary force before the LG elections as despite all allegations and actions against the party, the MQM is still seen as a favourite to win the largest number of seats in Karachi.

“We don’t think that the Karachi operation has turned mild or soft or that it has been slow,” she said. “I don’t know what that statement refers to as the raids are still going on, which lead to many arrests, and so are encounters. I think that it can be a preemptive move to convey to everyone, including the MQM, that there would be no change as far as the Karachi operation is concerned whatever the result of the local bodies election are.”

She said the Karachi operation without any doubt had led to a significant drop in killings and extortion over the past few months, but efforts were still needed to curb street crime and armed attacks on sectarian grounds.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2015

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