KARACHI: Pakistan's top civilian and military leaders gathered here for high-level security meetings on Sunday after recent high-profile terrorist attacks in Karachi raised fears of a slide back into chaos in the busy metropolis.
A top-level security meeting was held at the Corps Headquarters in Karachi attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, DG ISI Gen Rizwan Akhtar, other senior officials.
Earlier today, the Army chief visited the headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi where he was briefed about the ongoing operations, the prevailing security situation and the way forward for the Karachi operation.
General Raheel Sharif ordered commanders to leave "no stone unturned" in finding the attackers who killed eminent Qawwal Amjad Sabri and gunmen who kidnapped Owais Ali Shah, the son of the provincial chief justice.
The killing of Amjad Sabri, one of the most popular singers of Qawwali, was the latest in a high-profile series of attacks in Karachi, a megacity of 20 million plagued by political, ethnic and sectarian violence.
Two days earlier, unknown gunmen had kidnapped Owais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, in an upscale shopping area.
Improved security in Karachi has been one of the showcase successes for the army's ongoing security crackdown.
Karachi's murder rate fell by 50 percent after the paramilitary Rangers, who answer to the Ministry of Interior and the army, launched a sweeping crackdown in 2014 against suspected militants and criminals.
'Leave no stone unturned'
During his visit to the Rangers headquarters, the Army chief commended the sacrifices and achievements of the Rangers in Sindh which have so far brought about significant improvement in the law and order situation in Karachi.
According to an ISPR press release, Gen Raheel Sharif said that the determination, courage and resolve of the Sindh Rangers to rid the city of terrorists and criminals had earned them the widest respect from the people of Karachi.
He reiterated that the across-the-board operation focuses on the entire network of terrorists, their abettors and financiers and that it would continue until the objective of peace and to restore normalcy in all parts of Karachi is achieved.
"Every assistance, including intelligence and material combat support, will be provided to the Rangers to accomplish their mission,? he said.
Referring to recent incidents in the city, the Pakistan Army chief directed all commanders, including those of intelligence agencies, to continue working hand in glove and to "leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators".
'Operation to continue until elimination of last terrorist'
In a separate meeting earlier today, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad agreed that the ongoing operation in Karachi would continue until the complete elimination terrorists from the city.
The two leaders visited the residence of Sindh High Court's Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah to speak about his kidnapped son.
The interior minister said that law enforcement agencies would do everything to recover barrister Owais Ali Shah from his kidnappers.
The interior minister apprised the Chief Justice of the headway so far made towards the efforts for the recovery of his son Awais Ali Khan. He hoped that the son of the SHC Chief Justice would be recovered soon.
Chaudhry Nisar along with Dr Ishrat ul Ebad Khan also visited the residence of slain Qawwal Amjad Sabri and offered condolences to the members of the bereaved family. The two leaders also offered Fateha for the departed soul.
They assured the bereaved family that the killers of Amjad Sabri would be brought to justice and for this, the law enforcement agencies are swiftly carrying forward the process of investigations.
The Sindh Governor said that the murder of Amjad Sabri has saddened his fans not only in Pakistan but all over the world.
0 comments:
Post a Comment