Following the sectarian violence, the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) on Monday initiated crackdown in several parts of the city and detained over 100 suspects with weapons. According to sources, the LEAs conducted raids at Siddique Akbar Mosque, Nagan Chowrangi, North Nazimabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Baloch Para, Godhra, Gulbahar Colony, Sherpao Colony, Awami Colony, etc and arrested over 100 suspects and recovered weapons.
They said the LEA had initiated crackdown in the hitherto Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat - dominated areas after Numaish firing that left two persons killed and over a dozen wounded.
They said provincial home minister Manzoor Wassan during meeting at CPO office directed the authorities concerned to ensure flawless security during Muharram. They said the Sindh government has imposed ban on carrying weapons, public gatherings, rallies, processions, etc, without permission and added that if anybody was found defying the directives, he would be prosecuted under Section 144.
Later, Manzoor Wassan told media that the defunct SSP (now ASWJ) was not granted permission to hold rally and added that the authorities concerned had taken CCTV footages into custody to identify the culprits. Wassan along with other concerned officers also visited the place of incident.
Ghulam Bashir Sheikh, Additional Inspector General (AIG), Karachi said Sindh police have increased the deployment of 1000 more security personnel during Muharram. He said the LEAs had arrested four culprits involved in Numaish sectarian violence and added that release of other detained persons is subjected to their innocence.
He said these security personnel would be deployed at all sensitive areas and strict vigilance would be undertaken from all concerned control rooms to avert any untoward happening during Muharram. He said the authorities have constituted an investigation committee to trace the culprits behind the sectarian violence. Meanwhile, SHO Solider Bazar claimed to have detained 45 suspects and added that after formal investigation, several persons, if found innocent, would be released.
He said the heirs of the victims have so far not approached the LEAs to get a case registered. Rangers in a statement confirmed to have nabbed 23 suspects and recovered weapons from 22. The statement said the suspects were taken to unknown location for interrogation and the innocent would be released shortly.
However, ASWJ spokesman Taj Hanafi terming the incident as conspiracy against the party, demanded transparent inquiry into the incident. He said LEAs have so far detained some 170 workers of ASWJ in several raids at various parts of the metropolis. He demanded of the government to release party workers immediately or else the ASWJ would announce line of action soon.
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