Bilawal-Corps Commander meeting prior to Apex committee meeting: Over 40 seminaries still maintaining contacts with terrorists

More than 40 seminaries in Sindh have been maintaining contacts with terrorists. An emergency meeting of Sindh Apex Committee, headed by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sunday examined the ongoing targeted operation in Sindh and the law and order situation. The apex committee agreed that the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi would 'indiscriminately' continue until the city got rid of miscreants.
During the meeting, both the civilian and military leadership agreed that the ongoing operation would be stepped up and that it would be brought to its logical conclusion.
A scrutiny report on seminaries was also presented during the meeting.
The report revealed that more than 40 seminaries in Sindh have contacts with terrorists. 20 seminaries in Karachi and 20 from other cities of the province are said to be used in terror activities.
According to the report, 160 unregistered seminaries have been sealed so far. Out of these sealed seminaries, 139 were in Hyderabad while 28 in Nawabshah. The total number of seminaries in Sindh is more than 9,500. 6,503 seminaries are registered while 3087 are yet to be registered.
6 suspicious seminaries in the province were searched and they are still under surveillance.
"Slow implementation on National Action Plan (NAP) is affecting action against miscreants in the metropolis," it was observed in the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar, director general (DG) of Rangers Sindh, Major General Bilal Akbar. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal among others, agreed that the operation would continue as per the consultations held under the National Action Plan (NAP).
Prior to the apex committee meeting, a separate meeting was held at Chief Minister's House between Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar, Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and DG Rangers Sindh, Major General Bilal Akbar.
During the meeting, which lasted around two hours, reservations between the Sindh government and the military were removed.
Following the meeting, Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon told media persons that the role of Rangers and Police in Karachi operation was appreciated in the meeting.
He vowed against all those elements who are training the people for carrying out terror activities.
Memon claimed crime rate in Sindh is lower than the other three provinces of the country.
He said the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari congratulated the Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar over success in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb.