KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday the ongoing wave of terror in Karachi was linked to the turf war between land and extortion mafias to cement their grip over the metropolis.

Speaking to members of the SITE association along with Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan, he promised a “qualitative change” in the law and order situation over the next few days and assured industrialists that things would start improving by the time he would visit Karachi again next week.

He claimed that more than 100 “target killers” had been arrested and they would be presented before the media. In reply to aquestion he said it was possible that some of them belonged to some political parties in the past.

He also said the possibility of involvement of foreign elements in destabilising Karachi could not be ruled out.

Mr Malik said that after the arrest of some most wanted terrorists, law and order situation in the city deteriorated rapidly.

He said that the government was not patronising any criminal elements and action would be taken against them. He said that the present wave of terror in Karachi was connected with extortion demands.

He was of the view that industrialists and business community was being deliberately targeted and promised full protection to them.

Admitting that extortion mafias were very strong in the city, the interior minister said that rival gangs were fighting for control over each others’ areas in which they were getting support from some quarters as well.

Although many people had lost their lives before the Friday night’s attack on a police party travelling in a public bus in Korangi, Mr Malik claimed that before that incident there was calm in the metropolis.

He assured industrialists that more police posts in the industrial area would be set up to provide more security to industrialists.

He said that closed-circuit TV cameras would be installed in the entire SITE area and said that 50 per cent cost of the system would be borne by the government and expressed the hope that the rest of the cost would be shared by the businesscommunity.

He also stressed the need for similar arrangements for markets and called for capacity building of police deployed in the city.

Expressing grief and sorrow over the killing of policemen, the interior minister regretted that no one condemned their killingsalthough they were travelling in open vehicles to provide protection to the people.

He said the attack was part of a conspiracy to sabotage peace efforts in the city.

Businessmen worried

However, the industrialists, including SITE associations chairman Wahab Lakhani and Siraj Qasim Teli and others, seemed perplexed and remained unconvinced of the fulfilment of Mr Malik’s claims and commitments.Wahab Lakhani demanded ofthe government to provide foolproof security to industrialists and businessmen.

He pointed out that the law and order situation had now become so precarious that even during traffic jams commuters and other people were being looted and robbed by criminal elements.

They also expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s efforts in curbing extortion mafia and said that it had become impossible to do business in the city.

They pointed out that not one but several groups were making demands and if anyone failed to meet their demands, he or his family members would become target of these criminals.

They said that failure to give protection money resulted in kidnapping, torture and even deaths and expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s claims and efforts.

Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan said that Karachi had become a dumping ground of illegal weapons and those who were carrying such weapons do have links with political parties.

He said this while addressing SITE association members and later talking to the media after offering funeral prayers for the three policemen killed in the Friday night’s attack on a police party.

He vowed to expose those elements involved in the killings and destroying the law and order in the city.

Mr Wasan said that when authorities apprehend some armed troublemakers, pressure was exerted on them to set them free.He said that the 100 “target killers” that had been arrested so far were being interrogated and were expected to disclose important information.

He said that those believed to be behind the attack on the police bus in Korangi were among the arrested.

Answering to a question, Mr Wasan said that a plan was being formulated for the protection of Karachi’s residents.Apart from the part about Wasan this report seems to have been edited.Pls revise