Karachi: One more falls as Malik rules out Army deployment

Interior Minister Rehman Malik says it’s not feasible to call the Army in Karachi.

He said the Army is already fighting terrorists on various fronts, and it won’t be possible to bring the guardians of the frontiers to the city of Karachi. He said the Rangers and the police have been directed to do all it takes to restore peace in the port city. Soon after the rhetoric by the interior minister, unknown miscreants shot dead an innocent man in Gulshan-e-Hadeed.

He said the government and law enforcement agencies are taking serious measures to control criminal activities in Karachi. He said that several meetings had been held with law enforcing agencies and stakeholders to improve law and order situation in the mega city.

“We are deeply concerned about the law and order situation in Karachi city and the government is taking stringent measures against the miscreants without any discrimination,” he said.

To a question, he said that there were a number of issues which need to be tackled with collective efforts. Karachi is facing issues of ethnic and sectarian tensions, extremism and extortion of money, the interior minister said.

He said that a task force had been established to deal with extortion mafia which he said is targeting innocent people and traders of Karachi.

The interior minister said certain elements wanted to derail peace in Karachi and destabilise the country but they would not achieve success in their nefarious designs.

“We are collecting information against the elements involved in sabotaging peace of Karachi and action will be taken without any discrimination,” he added.

Rehman Malik said after coming into power, Pakistan Peoples Party government had to face a number of problems.

He said the President and Prime Minister were very serious to bring normalcy to Karachi and several meetings were held to improve situation without any further delay.

He said it was responsibility of all political parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and citizens of Pakistan to come forward to work for welfare and progress of the country.

The interior minister asked the people to provide information against the miscreants and anti-social elements so that quick action could be taken against them.