Hailing the government's decision of deploying army in Islamabad and some sensitive areas of Karachi, President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and representatives of different trade bodies on Monday called upon the government to deploy troops across the city to help control the deteriorating law and order, acts of terrorism, target killings, kidnapping for ransom and extortion cases.
The KCCI President Abdullah Zaki while welcoming the government's decision of deploying army in Islamabad and in some sensitive parts of Karachi, demanded of the government to deploy army across the city so as to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism and to effectively deal with criminals.
In a statement issued on Monday, the KCCI chief said: "Keeping army operation limited to sensitive areas only may not yield positive results. The patriotic troops of Pakistan Army, who have always responded positively whenever Pakistan faces such threats, must be deployed in every area of the city as lawlessness is not just confined to sensitive areas but is being widely reported from every single locality," he added.
He pointed out that the Karachi Operation being carried out by Rangers in collaboration with Sindh police has failed to deliver positive results as the overall security situation, instead of showing signs of improvement was continuously deteriorating. He said that the strategies adopted by Federal and Sindh governments since September 2013 for restoring peace in the city proved to futile, which left no other option for the business community, but to demand intervention of Pakistan Army in order to provide some relief to the perturbed Karachiites. "It is heartening to note that the government has finally responded to KCCI's demand and gave go ahead to Pakistan Army but peace can only be restored if army operation is carried out across the city", he opined. Highlighting some of the shortcomings of police department and Rangers' inadequate necessary powers, Zaki said that Rangers and police were not in a position to restore peace as it required stringent strategy to fully restore peace which could only be done by the army.
He was of the view that all pro-business policies and measures being initiated by the present government to attract investments in this region would be wasted if the city remained insecure.
"Incidents of street crimes, kidnapping for ransom, activities of bhatta mafia, robberies and target killings have resurfaced in many areas of the city whereas the law-enforcement agencies seem helpless", he added. The KCCI chief hoped that the present government realising the gravity of the situation and the hardships being faced by Karachiites, would consider the KCCI's demand of having army operation in every nook and cranny of the city in order to ensure durable peace in the metropolis which, he added, contributed massive chunk of more than 60 per cent to the national exchequer and, undoubtedly, deserved to be treated accordingly.
Endorsing the KCCI chief's demand of deploying army across the city, President of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Farukh Mazhar, said that "it was very old demand of business community to deploy army all over the city, in general and industrial areas, in particular."
Federal B' Area Association of Trade and Industry's former chairman, Masroor Alvi, also supported business community's demand of deploying army all over the city, in general and industrial areas, in particular, to protect industrialists and civilians. He said that the incident of Karachi Airport has sent a negative signal aboard and now it was high time to take all precautionary measures to prevent such happenings in future.
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