KARACHI, Nov 28: Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan has said that a gang of conspirators wants to destroy peace in Karachi by triggering terrorism. “Their conspiracy was foiled by ulema and their followers, who extended their cooperation to the government in restoring peace,” he said while speaking at a high-level meeting held on Monday at the Central Police Office.
He said the elements involved in attempts to destroy peace could not escape punishment. “If any personnel of law-enforcing agencies was found to be negligent, he would also be dealt with strictly,” he said, adding that the police and Rangers had been put on a higher alert for the remaining days of Ashura.
Mr Wasan took notice of the Sunday firing incident at Numaish Chowrangi that left two private scouts dead and saw arson attacks at the scene of the incident.
He offered his condolences to the bereaved families and promised disbursement of compensation for the loss of life.Compensation would also be paid to those who suffered losses in the ensuing arson attacks, he said.
Referring to the law and order, he said he had already cancelled leave of absence of police personnel to ensure peace during Muharram. Permits for carrying arms had been suspended until the 12th of Muharram while ulema would be issued special permission to carry weapons.
The home minister also announced that the strength of police deployed at mosques, Imambargahs, venues of religious congregations and along the routes of Muharram processions would be increased and walk-through gates would be installed wherever required.
Ulema from various schools of thought attending the meeting said that there was no sectarian tension in the city but a particular group of miscreants was bent upon creating trouble to disturb peace and harmony.
MNAs Haider Abbas Rizvi and Abdul Rashid Godel, Additional Chief Secretary Waseem Ahmad, IG Mushtaq Shah, Additional IG (Special Branch) Rasool Bux Sand, Additional IG (Karachi) Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh, DIG Karachi and SSPs and representatives of Majalis organising bodies were also present.
Later, the minister visited Numaish Chowrangi to inspect the security arrangements. He told media people present at the scene that a number of people were picked up after the Sunday incident and they were being interrogated. “Those found involved in the violence would not be spared,” he added.
Mr Wasan then drove to the Liaquat National Hospital, where he inquired after the health of a journalist, Ehsan Kohati, who was seriously wounded in the violence. He assured the victim of all possible assistance from the government in his treatment.
JI slams violenceJI city chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati, in a statement issued on Monday, condemned the Sunday violence at Numaish Chowrangi that claimed lives of a couple of scouts and triggered arson attacks.
He described the attack as an attempt to provoke sectarian violence in the city, and alleged that the incident took place due to the negligence of law-enforcement agencies.
He called for a thorough investigation into the whole episode and urged to government to bear the expenses of treatment of those wounded in the incident.
The incident took place on the very first day of Muharram which was immensely condemnable, he said.
The JI leader said that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood and those involved in provoking sectarian disharmony were the enemies of Islam. He demanded that the culprits of Sunday incident should be brought to justice.