KARACHI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday hinted that the Rangers-led operation across the city was not going to end any time soon when he asked the Karachi corps commander and heads of the intelligence and paramilitary agencies to continue to collaborate with the law enforcement institutions “for complete restoration of peace” to the metropolis.

The army chief, who was on a brief visit to the city, chaired a “security conference”, which was attended by the corps commander, DG ISI, DG MI, DG MO and DG Rangers, at the corps headquarters.

He appreciated the role and performance of the intelligence agencies and security forces that led to the restoration of peace to the city but at the same time he highlighted the need to continue the exercise for lasting peace.

“Appreciating the accomplishments of security forces and intelligence agencies for improved law and order situation in the city, the army chief directed to continue focused operations in conjunction with other LEAs and provincial government for complete restoration of peace for common citizen of Karachi,” said a brief statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The security conference was held a few days after the results of the “Karachi operation”, which has been under way for the past three years, had been challenged by targeted attacks on sectarian grounds. Over the past five weeks, nine people were killed and over a dozen others were wounded in targeted attacks on the various venues of Muharram majalis, while only last week two members of the Tableeghi Jamaat, three workers of the banned group, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, and a prayer leader were killed in what police suspected as targeted killings on sectarian grounds.

The renewed wave of sectarian killings pushed the provincial government to do more despite the success against heinous crimes of kidnapping for ransom, terrorism and targeted killings. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had recently ordered the IG Police to ask DIGs to explain their position about their ‘failure’ in stopping targeted killings. Nearly a week after the provincial apex committee meeting on law and order, the military leadership at the security conference asked his force commander and chief of intelligence agencies to continue their efforts in collaboration with the local law-enforcement institutions.

Earlier before presiding over the security conference, the ISPR statement said General Sharif attended the ongoing exercise “Resilient Response” where he was briefed in detail about the conduct and conclusions of the exercise encompassing both defensive and offensive operations.

The army chief expressed his complete satisfaction over the enhanced battle worthiness and operational preparedness of formations, added the statement.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2016