KARACHI: The city police have decided to set up a ‘counterterrorism unit’ (CTU) in a move to strengthen its intelligence network, expedite investigation into cases of targeted killings and make the law enforcement agency self-reliant in technology-based policing, a top official has said.

The decision came weeks after the attack on renowned cleric Mufti Taqi Usmani and his family in Gulshan-i-Iqbal following the recent surge in killings on political and sectarian grounds. The official said that the unit would primarily focus on cases of targeted killings with a task to curb the menace.

“The proposal has been finalised and it would take the next few weeks to make the CTU operational,” additional inspector general of police Dr Amir Sheikh told Dawn.

“It will consist of at least 150 personnel and will operate under the Karachi police’s organisational structure. The unit will have multidimensional tasks to take up the challenge of targeted killings and terrorism. It will not only take up the investigations into these cases but will also take measures to identify and bust those groups through strong intelligence network.”

The Rangers-led operation, which was launched in September 2013, has improved the security situation in the city to a large extent as peace was restored to residential and commercial areas after years of bloodshed on sectarian, ethnic and political grounds.

But, a surge in incidents of targeted killings on political and sectarian grounds has set alarm bells ringing in the quarters concerned.

Since late last year several people have been killed in targeted attacks. They include former MQM-P lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi, workers of the MQM-P and also those associated with the Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party.

A recent daring attack came last month when Mufti Taqi Usmani survived the gun attack that killed his close aide and two guards. While the authorities claim to have solved most of the cases, they agree the threat is not yet over.

“We need to make policing advanced with technological support,” said Karachi police chief Dr Sheikh. “At CTU we also plan to develop a digital archive and a modern lab that would help investigate cases on modern lines. It would also help make the police self-reliant gradually when it comes to technology. Right now we need to take help from other institutions for technological support while probing high-profile cases.”

Confronting threats ranging from terrorist attacks to deadly battles with gangsters, street criminals and hitmen associated with political and sectarian groups, the Karachi police have made several measures for bringing reforms in regular policing that include use of small arms and a special unit to combat street crime.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2019