Karachi operation against criminals has helped reduce incidents of terrorism by 80 per cent, targeted-killing by 75 per cent, extortion by 85 per cent, kidnapping by 83 per cent in the metropolitan and all this has encouraged people to spend around Rs 5 billion on purchases of national flags and buntings last year to celebrate August 14, Independence Day.
A Rangers Colonel Qaiser informed this on Wednesday to Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights while briefing the members on the paramilitary force's operations and improved law and order in Karachi. Meeting of the committee was held under the chair of Senator Nasreen Jalil here in the Ministry of Human Rights.
Briefing the committee members, Qaiser said that around 7,950 operations have been conducted in Karachi after 2013, 6,361 suspects were handed over to the police while 221 suspects were given to Customs and Federal Investigation Agency for interrogation.
He said that out of all these suspects arrested 5,518 were released without registration of FIR against them; 1,313 of them got bails from the courts and only 188 of them were handed down punishment, despite the fact that some 1,236 of them were terrorists, 848 target killers, 403 extortionists and 143 kidnappers.
The target killers admitted during investigations that they had targeted some 7,224 innocents in Karachi. Colonel Qaiser said that a total of 1,313 operations in Karachi were conducted against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement; 1,035 against Peoples Aman Committee and 28 against Awami National Party. He said the operation also helped reduce street crime in Karachi, besides curbing financial support for criminals from South Africa, United Kingdom, Thailand and some other countries. The improved law and order has helped restore confidence of traders and businessmen and this also has a positive impact on Karachi Stock Exchange, he added. He informed the committee members that 478 suspects were arrested from interior Sindh during operation against criminals and they all were handed over to the police for further investigations.
Colonel Qaiser dispelled the impression that the operation was being carried out against a specific party, or ethnic group; saying the operation was against criminals and targeted-killers.
Chairperson of the committee Senator Nasreen Jalil said the Human Rights violations were against the Constitution, and indiscriminate action should be taken against criminals to dispel the impression of the operation being against a single party or ethnic group. She also directed the Colonel to present details of all those who were released without registration of FIRs in the next meeting.
MQM Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that cases against 25 parliamentarians of his party were registered under Anti-Terrorism Act, around 7,000 youngsters were picked up and 75 persons were found died during their custody by the law enforcement agencies. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said that transparent investigations into death of Aftab Alam during custody of Rangers should be carried out to provide justice to the deceased's family and improve public image of the paramilitary force. He also criticised the registration of FIRs against tenants of Okara Farms under Anti-Terrorism Act.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Investigation)-Lahore briefed the committee members about cases of missing children from the city. He said that 201 children went missing in the last six months, but 163 of them have returned to their homes.
In July, 36 children went missing and 24 of them came back home while the police recovered 5 of them through operations, he said, adding that efforts are underway to locate whereabouts of 7 children. The DIG revealed that 200 children were living in Child Protection Bureau Lahore, but they are unwilling to reveal their identity, or even their parents.
Federal Minister for Human Rights Kamran Michael said that Lahore administration and police should tell the true picture about missing children to public through media, and added the next meeting of the committee be held in Lahore wherein Lahore division administration should be summoned for explanation on the issue.