The police and Rangers’ ongoing targeted raids against criminals in Karachi are being conducted on the basis of the reports prepared by the joint interrogation teams of intelligence and law enforcement agencies. To deal with the menace of target killings in Karachi, it was decided a few years ago to form joint interrogation teams (JIT) for each case. “To understand the modus operandi of the militant wings of the warring political parties and other criminal groups, the available JIT reports, around 20 in number, were called for and examined,” a senior police official told The News requesting anonymity. “It was found that these militant wings aren’t working independently. There are several stakeholders involved,” he added. “It was found that there is strict compartmentalisation among different groups, for example a member of a specific killer group had no idea about any such other group, even if they are from the same party.” The target killers interrogated could only disclose the names of their associates, none else. The chain of command never travelled and orders were from the high command, with no indication to its formation, working, and names specifying jobs assigned. Keeping in view these facts, the Sindh government held a meeting with senior police and intelligence officials including IGP Shahid Nadeem Baloch to devise a comprehensive strategy to dismantle the terrorist networks operating in the city. A team comprising devoted police officials was formed and the IGP nominated Shahid Hayat Khan to take over as the city’s police chief. The proposal was accepted and Khan was assigned the task of restoring peace in the city. Other police officials were also posted at the district and range levels. The crackdown against criminals was launched under the supervision of Additional IG Karachi Shahid Hayat Khan. Between September 5 and 21, 67 people were murdered in Karachi - 10 in target killing cases, two for resisting robbery, 15 over personal enmity while the motive behind the killing of 40 of them could not be ascertained. .In August, 196 people were killed in the city - 20 in target killing cases, 156 in cases where the motive was unclear, four in bomb blasts, 15 over personal disputes and three killed during robberies. Police sources said from September 5 to date, they had conducted 1,457 raids in several areas of Karachi arresting 2,157 people. The arrested men include target killers, proclaimed absconders, absconders, extortionists and political activists. The sources added that the arrested men included 21 held for murder, 30 under the anti-terrorism act, 13 in extortion cases, 158 involved in robberies, and 480 under the arms ordinance. Police seized 597 pistols, six Kalashnikovs, 12 repeater rifles, 15 shotguns and 29 grenades. A police official said the government and law enforcement agencies’ high-ups took several aspects into consideration before going ahead with the crackdown. They reviewed the history of the city and the prevailing conflicts and the complex politico-socio-economical conditions. They called the complainants of a variety of selected cases and SHOs, the investigating officers or the district police officers concerned to become familiar with the ground realities, modus operandi and the magnitude of the involvement of the militant wings of political parties fighting for political and economic hegemony in the metropolis. How it started The phenomenon of target killings first surfaced in Karachi in the late 80s. With the passage of time, it became systematic, multi-faceted and goal-oriented. The systematic resort to this phenomenon was witnessed in the early 90s, when political parties started using it as a way to wipe out their staunch enemies and establish uncontested political supremacy in Karachi. In the aftermath, police had to bear the brunt of it, and till date they have lost hundreds of officers. Apart from that, the rapid increase in people from different ethnicities moving to Karachi resulted in another impetus to the power struggle in the city. The following are main reasons behind the ethnic violence in Karachi: political hegemony; land grabbing for providing shelter to the respective ethnic community; reaping economic benefits for individuals and the community; strengthening strong holds to claim power sharing; and misuse of ethnic power by criminal elements. In view of the persistent influx in the city, rapid urbanisation and increased ethnic terrorism in the city, different groups began to assert and promote their nationalist and cultural agendas as a measure for their survival. Political rivalries and ethnic tension cannot be delinked from each other and are intertwined. Criminal elements including land grabbers, drug mafias, gangsters and illegal arms suppliers are continuing their illegal activities in the city. Their clashes with each other are the root cause behind target killings. Collection of extortion money is also a major reason. Besides, warring religious factions resort to target killing to settle scores.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:49:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015