Karachi violence conspiracy to destabilise industrial and trading hub: Rehman

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has termed the Karachi carnage as conspiracy to destabilise industrial and trading hub of the country which automatically strikes at the foundations of Pakistan. Addressing a meeting of Site Association of Industry (SAI) on Saturday, he hinted that foreign hand is behind this conspiracy, and the action of Friday night was a part of well thought out conspiracy against the country and to create panic.
He said that incident of attacks on buses carrying police officials was a very serious well planned move, and added that "we have to move fast to apprehend culprits involved in such acts". Rehman said over 100 criminals involved in target killing and extortion had been arrested and they would be produced before general pubic on TV and media soon. "I well also give a in-camera briefing", he added.
He reiterated his statement that there was complete normalcy prevailing in the city on Friday before the incident of firing on the police van. The attack on the van was an attempt to create panic. He advised general public not to pay attention to rumours and added that it is an attempt of troublemaker to create terror in the city to achieve their desired results.
He emphasised the need of increasing manpower of law enforcing agencies and increased police patrolling in markets and industrial areas. However, he said that in spite of financial constraints the government is making its best efforts to equip law enforcing agencies with best possible arms, ammunitions, and communication system and increase their mobility.
He admitted that extortion mafia kidnapped businessmen after failure to get demanded amount, and assured that action would be taken on all complaints received with regard to extortion mafia. He said that investigation is in progress from the arrested 100 target killers and likely to be produced before media in next two days. They will also be produced before parliamentary committee.
He assured that CCTV cameras would be installed in Site industrial area. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan said that 100 target killers have been arrested so far. He said the target killers were being interrogated and were expected to provide important information.
He said that in the attack three police official were killed and several were injured. He added that those believed to be behind the attack on the police bus in Korangi were among the arrested and a large amount of arms and ammunition was present in the city. Wasan said that a plan was being formulated for the protection of Karachi's residents.
He said that extortion mafia has been active in the city since 1988 and with the passage of time they have become more volatile. The minister said that the government would like to have more people in collaboration and consultation with all the political parties to chalk out a permanent solution of law and order problem. He said that it is the first priority of the present government to bring peace in the city.
Leader of Businessmen Group and former president of KCCI, Siraj Kassim Teli, demanded that the government should allow all citizens to keep arms for self-protection. "When criminals point one gun towards them the criminals also find several guns pointing towards them". Chairman of SAI Wahab Lakhani criticised the government for frequent transfers of higher police officials from one area to another. He said when one officer makes some strategy to overcome law and order problems he gets transferred and the other who takes over charge restarts the process from zero.