LARKANA: DIG of Larkana Abdullah Shaikh has said that the recent search operation carried out in specified villages along the provincial border with Balochistan on intelligence basis did not turn out to be successful as Hafeez Brohi — believed to be the key suspect behind several terrorist attacks in Sindh — could not be found.

DIG Shaikh, along with his Nasirabad (Balochistan) counterpart Sharjeel Kharal, was speaking to the media after chairing a meeting of SSPs of both border divisions on Friday.

He said that five suspected terrorists and six suspected facilitators were picked up during the operation for interrogation. He said the meeting took stock of the situation with special reference to the Feb 16 suicide bomb attack at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan.

“Several teams of the Sindh police have gone to Balochistan,” he said while explaining the intelligence-based targeted action carried out to apprehend Hafeez Brohi and his associates. DIG Shaikh said he was optimistic about a breakthrough soon.

In the wake of the recent wave of terrorist attacks in different parts of the country, enhanced coordination between the Sindh and Balochistan police departments was ensured.

“Investigations into past terrorist attacks that took place in Sindh had revealed that the culprits had come from Mastung, Khuzdar and other areas of Balochistan,” said the DIG, adding that the police departments of the two provinces were making coordinated efforts to stop such infiltration and apprehend suspected elements.

“The two provinces will not only boost intelligence sharing at the DSP-level but will also carry out joint operations against terrorists across the provincial border,” he said, arguing that in many cases, terrorists used to cross the border soon after carrying out an attack to escape arrest. “We have, therefore, decided to strengthen the element of border coordination,” he said.

He revealed that from now on, Sindh and Balochistan police would be able to carry out operations in each other’s jurisdiction on the basis of tangible and substantial information.

On his part, DIG Kharal said that police chiefs of both provinces felt the need for undertaking tough crackdowns on terrorists. He said it had become necessary following reports that terrorists had crossed into Sindh from the Balochistan side. “A study of various incidents that had taken place over the past six years helped us reach the decision to work in close coordination,” he said.

He held out the assurance that the Nasirabad police range would extend maximum possible support to their Larkana counterparts in targeted operations.

DIG Kharal said that conditions on either side of the provincial border were different. “Carrying out an antiterrorism operation on Sindh’s side is not as difficult as it is on Balochistan’s side,” he said.

“The Sindh police will find us always ready to support and join an operation against terrorists on tangible intelligence report,’ he added.

SUP slams govt for ‘leaving people at mercy of terrorists’

DADU: Sindh United Party (SUP) convenor Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah on Friday criticised the ruling cliques for leaving the general public at the mercy of terrorists and criminals while generously spending public money for the safety and security of themselves and their families.

He was speaking to party workers who, under his leadership, took out a rally in Sehwan and converged on the main gate of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine where they attended a public meeting.

Mr Shah told them that security lapse followed by a poor official response to the emergency arising out of the Feb 16 suicide bomb attack at the shrine had caused many avoidable deaths.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families of nearly 90 victims of the carnage and sympathy with scores of wounded victims, Mr Shah said such attacks could not stop people of Sindh from following the teachings of Sufi saints. “Sindh is the land of Sufis, who preached peace, love and religious harmony,” he said, adding that attacks on shrines would only strengthen people’s determination to propagate teachings of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sachal Sarmast and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai more vigorously so as to foil enemies’ nefarious designs with peace and brotherhood.

This was evident from the fact that the number of people visiting Qalandar’s shrine after the attack had constantly been increasing, he said.

Mr Shah said people had lost confidence in the government after its failure to prevent acts of terrorism. He advised people to stop depending on it [government] for their security and take steps on their own to protect shrines and their visitors from such attacks.

SUP senior vice chairman Syed Zain Shah, general secretary Roshan Ali Buriro, Maula Bakhsh Leghari, Darya Khan, Dodo Burdi, Asghar Solangi, Akbar Mallah and Nisar Solangi also spoke.

They also attended dhamal at the shrine.

Later, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah addressed party workers’ gatherings at Bhan Saeedabad, Manjhand and Lakki Shah Saddar towns.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2017