Interior Minister Rehman Malik has stunned the Federal Cabinet by maintaining that the country's "big guns" are responsible for worsening law and order situation through their support to banned outfits and warned that killings are likely to increase during Moharram.
He, however, did not disclose any name of any 'big gun' except Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif's who, according to him, arrested Malik Ishaq of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LG) in only a petty case. Official documents exclusively obtained by Business Recorder reveal that Interior Minister in his briefing to the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday spoke on the recent worsening law and order situation in Karachi.
He said Federal Government had been aiding the provincial government of Sindh, whenever requested to maintain the law and order situation in that province. The Rangers were assisting the police for the purpose, but primarily the police were responsible for law and order and security of the citizens.
The Taliban as a result of the military operation have grown weaker over time, according to him. Other groups, however, had jumped in to destabilise the situation, he added. "In Moharram, killings are likely to increase. The proscribed outfit like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has taken the lead and was responsible for killing Shias. Similarly Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LG) has claimed killings in Quetta," he maintained.
According to Rehman Malik, he had written to Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to arrest the most wanted terrorist Malik Ishaq, but he was arrested temporarily in a petty case, and then bail was granted to him. "The reason behind this lawlessness is because some "big guns" are supporting the terrorist outfits," he continued.
He stated that in Karachi there was a war between mafias of land, bhatta and drugs. According to him, these elements are also being exploited by a 'foreign hand'. The minister voiced his concern by stating that they had arrested hundreds of terrorists who were released within three months. He claimed that the judiciary was responsible for the release of terrorists because they were scared of threat to their families.
The Minister for Law and Justice, Farooq H Naek, focused his queries on the following three issues: (i) who is behind targeted killings?; (ii) why have they not been apprehended?; (iii) and what is the way to stop targeted killings and restore peace in Karachi? The following views were expressed by the Cabinet members: The lawlessness in Sindh is on account of the failure of Intelligence Agencies who are aware of everything but choose not to act.
For Balochistan, the top leadership should sit with Corps Commander, the provincial leadership and the heads of agencies and resolve the matter, as enough discussion has already taken place with no results. A Ministerial Committee should be constituted to review the laws for controlling terrorism; Special Courts with special powers should be formulated with enabling legislation to conduct speedy trials, To address the Karachi situation, the Prime Minister or the President should call a meeting of all the stakeholders including political parties such as MQM, ANP and JI to address the matter on a war-footing. Other countries faced with terrorist threat in the past such as the US (9/11), the UK (7/7), Ireland and Sri Lanka were able to surmount the problem through effective laws and targeted implementation. Why Pakistan cannot do so? The terrorists and their sponsors are well known. The countries that sponsor such activities should be dealt with sternly through diplomatic channels.
After a detailed discussion, the Cabinet decided that the Minister for Interior shall identify and brief the Cabinet about the groups involved in targeted killings in Karachi in the next Cabinet meeting, to be convened for this purpose only. The Chief Minister Sindh along with his team of officer, would also be invited to attend this meeting.