KARACHI, July 5: Interior Minister Moin Uddin Haider has said that with the restructuring of police force, providing them some resources, the police have started producing results and in recent days criminals “big-wigs” have been arrested in the Punjab and specially in Sindh while it was chasing others who are at large.

Talking to newsmen at State Guest House here on Friday, the minister expressed the hope that police would gradually be successful in bringing the terrorism and terrorist and sectarian killings under control.

He said if Al Qaida people are being arrested either in Karachi or elsewhere, it is also being done by the police.

When asked about the number of Al Qaida members arrested in Karachi, Moin Uddin Haider said it is an ongoing operation and they are being arrested in varying numbers.

To a question that Al Qaida activists are being arrested with the help of FBI, the minister made it clear that there are only a handful of FBI people operating in the country.

He said that FBI cannot take any action within Pakistan at its own. Whatever is being done, it is being done by Pakistani police and intelligence agencies and CID.

Moin Uddin Haider pointed out that as regards the availability of facilities, like satellite communication, etc, these are not available with us for which he was making all-out efforts for availability of these facilities in Pakistan. He said it is only in this area where the FBI’s help is sought.

He said that FBI is not taking any action at its own, nor they are going to any madaris or Masajid.

As regards the number of FBI, he informed that after the murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl, two FBI agents had come to Karachi and after bomb blast outside the US Consulate, 14 FBI people came over here, half of whom have gone back and the remaining too would return after completion of their inquiries whereafter only eight to 10 people would be left behind in Pakistan. He said it was incorrect to suggest that there are 200 or 600 FBI people in Pakistan.

Replying to a question about law and order situation in the country, with particular reference to situation in Karachi, Moin Uddin Haider said what was most concerning for the government is terrorism in which Al-Qaida factor, which was not there before, has also assimilated. Similarly, the suicidal bomb blasts are also a matter of great concern.

He pointed out that sectarian killings are also a source of discomfort for the people.

The minister said these two things are on the top of our priorities on which we are concentrating.

On the other hand, he said, it is a matter of concern for Karachiites who complain about lifting and snatching of motorcycles and vehicles, or the people of Khairpur say that their roads are not safe and often they come under fire or that there are cases of kidnapping.

The minister said these things come under crimes. If roads are not safe, or if there are dacoities and kidnapping, these too are our priorities but our more emphasis is on terrorism and sectarian killings.

To a question about the closure of roads following incidents of terrorism, Moin Uddin Haider said that he had talked to the concerned senior officials on this issue and had told them to take steps to restore traffic partially.

The minister said on July 4 the government was on very high alert throughout the country as a result of which these roads were closed for traffic, but these will reopen from Friday evening or Saturday morning for which he was in contact with the Sindh administration.

He told a questioner that some more gangs of Akram Lahori are still at large.

Of them, he said, there are only two to three persons on whom there is head money. But, as Akram Lahori had himself stated, there are some 100 activists of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They are the people who had obtained training in Afghanistan and their record was not with the agencies or police forces. But, with the interrogation of those under arrest, names of these activists are being ascertained.

Mr Haider said that after 18 months of hard work, a data-base of terrorists and sectarian killers was now ready with the government which includes their names and addresses of residence. He said this would help us in making their arrests and hopefully the government would succeed in smashing their networks.

Referring to two incidents of bomb blasts in Karachi and efforts by the concerned agencies to nab them, he said that elements involved in carrying them were identified as we have reached very close to them and they are likely to apprehended within a short period of time.

In reply to a question, he said it was up to the election commission to allow political activities in the country. However, it was his personal view that political campaign should be shorter as it creates chaotic situation and which consequently leads to clashes and polarization which may affect normal public life.

Tribal leaders and people of Northern Areas have full confidence in the government and they are extending full co-operation in our drive against Al Qaida elements.

border situation: Regarding situation on the border, Mr Haider said although our armed forces are pitched fully alert at the borders, there is no matter of concern.

“Both sides realize that building up tension or war will only cause harm and damage to both the countries”, the minister observed while talking to newsmen.

Besides, he said the world is also pursuing the two countries as a result of which the situation is under control. He said as regards the Western Border, the government has gradually fully commanded it and armed forces are also there.

He referred to the impression being created that attacks are being carried out in the tribal areas, the minister denied the same and said there was nothing of this sort.

Moin Haider said that tribal notables, leaders and people are happily cooperating with the government.—APP/PPI