ISLAMABAD: Sindh Rangers on Wednesday informed a Senate panel that it has arrested around 6,500 people, including 1,236 terrorists and 848 target killers since the operation against criminals was initiated three years ago in Karachi.

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights was informed that the paramilitary force conducted 7,950 operations in the mega city and arrested thousands of people.

“Rangers have handed over 6,361 people to the police and 221 to FIA and other law enforcement agencies,” officials of the Sindh Rangers said.

“We have also arrested 403 extortionists and 143 kidnappers during last three years.”

The Senate panel was told that 1,158 arrested people were released without registration of any First-Information Report (FIR) against them, whereas 1,313 were released on bail.

“As many as 188 criminals arrested by the Sindh Rangers were sentenced by the courts,” the paramilitary force’s officials said.

Rangers said out of 1,236 arrested people, 848 were target killers. “These target killers disclosed that they have targeted 7,224 people by killing or injuring them,” the committee was informed.

Giving details about the operation, Rangers said 1,313 raids were conducted on MQM, 1,035 on People’s Aman Committee and 28 on Awami National Party.

“As many as 478 people were also arrested from interior Sindh during the operation,” they said.

The Sindh Rangers claimed that as a result of the Karachi operation, terrorist activities have been reduced by 80 per cent. “Target killing is reduced by 75 per cent while extortion by 85 per cent and kidnapping by 83 per cent,” they said.

During the briefing, it was revealed that target killers in Karachi were being financially supported from South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Senate committee suggested investigation into the death of MQM worker Aftab Ahmed by a judicial commission or Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Members of the committee were of the opinion that an institution which is accused for the murder of Aftab cannot hold investigation by itself.