| Interior Minister says ready to deploy more Rangers on Sindh’s request | Observes situation in Karachi not good | Sees as if there is no law [and order] in Karachi | Advises PM to mend ties with Tareen to avert no-trust threat
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid offered on Tuesday to deploy more Rangers paramilitary in Karachi to curb the rising incidents of street crime in the metropolis.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said: “If the Sindh government asks, we are ready to increase [the deployment of] our Rangers forces. We are even ready to deploy them at police stations.”
“If [Sindh] Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ask us for any assistance, we are willing to provide it,” he added.
In response to a question, he further said the situation in Karachi was not good.
“The situation that I saw in Karachi yesterday cannot be expressed in words … It seems as if there is no law [and order] in Karachi and this could have adverse consequences.”
Rashid’s offer for increasing Rangers’ troops in Karachi comes after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA in the Sindh Assembly, Khurram Sher Zaman, wrote a letter to the interior minister, urging federal authorities to look into the important issue of rising street crime in Karachi and “take whatever appropriate measures are available to you as per the Constitution and law”.
In the letter, which he shared on his Twitter, Zaman cited data by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, highlighting that 80,661 incidents of street crime were reported in Karachi in 2021, a surge of 27.2 per cent from 2020.
“Predictably, the people of Karachi have lost confidence and hope in the Sindh government and Karachi police,” he wrote. “We are looking towards you, the prime minister and the federal government, for crucial help to improve the law-and-order situation in Karachi, as the prevailing law of the jungle is unacceptable.”
Over the past few days, there has been a surge in killing during armed robberies and other street crimes in the city, with growing complaints from all segments of society that have also called out the security administration and provincial government for its failure to curb such incidents.
The recent violent incidents included the murder of a journalist associated with Samaa TV, Ather Mateen, which renewed criticism over the provincial authorities failure to control the rise in street crime in Karachi.
On Monday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presided over a meeting to work out a strategy for eradicating street crime in the city.
It was decided in the meeting that targeted operations would be launched against criminals in the city, and there would be legislation on e-tagging of habitual criminals.
During the meeting, the chief minister also rebuked police and the Rangers for the surge in street crime, saying: “I usually visit the city secretly but hardly have seen the police and Rangers on the roads or on patrolling in areas.”
Today, the chief minister visited slain journalist’s residence to condole with his family, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, he said Mateen’s family had been assured that his killers would be punished.
“We are taking strict measures” to curb crime, he said, adding that the investigation of Mateen’s murder was under way and expressed resolve to “defeat street criminals”.
Launch of e-passport service
Meanwhile, Rashid also announced during his press conference that Prime Minister Imran Khan would launch an e-passport service after his return from Russia.
He said 13 new passport offices would be established in Sindh while 28 identity card stations of the National Database and Regulatory would be set up in the four provinces.
The interior minister reaffirmed the commitment to crush foreign-funded terrorists.
Regarding the upcoming visit of the Australian cricket team, the interior minister said excellent arrangements had been made for their security.
He further said the armed forces realised the critical situation in the country and that is why they said “we are with the elected government”.
With regards to the political situation, Rashid said opposition parties would not get anything from their protest campaigns.
He said their move to table a no-confidence motion would also fail.
“If the opposition says they have kept their cards hidden, Imran Khan also keeps his cards close to his chest,” he remarked. “Your talks, meetings and requests will not work.”
In response to a question, he said in his view, the PTI should also engage its estranged leader Jahangir Tareen in talks.
“But the decision is Imran Khan’s.”
To another question, he said after the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, the IT ministry had decided that the “investigation of cases [under the law] would be taken up by us.”
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to mend ties with the disgruntled leader of ruling PTI, Jahangir Tareen, amid opposition’s efforts to oust the premier through a no-confidence vote.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Rashid, who is also a close confidante of the premier, said politicians “never shut their doors” on their opponents.
He also cited an example of the recent historic meeting between the top leadership of PML-N and PML-Q after a hiatus of 14 years.
“I hope Jahangir Tareen will act responsibly since he is a seasoned politician and in my personnel opinion there is no harm in engaging with him,” he remarked.
His statement comes amid reports that disgruntled group of PTI lawmakers led by Tareen is considering supporting the opposition in the no-trust move against the government.
According to sources, majority of the Tareen group’s members decided to enter the political arena with full force and support the opposition’s anti-government strategy.
Most members of the group suggested standing with the PML-N in the anti-government stance while those hailing from Jhang advised maintaining an independent status, the insiders said.
Rashid, while commenting on opposition’s no-trust move, said PM Imran would emerge victorious in this political battle and the opposition would face embarrassment like in the past.
“It is the job of the opposition parties to garner support of 172 MNAs in the National Assembly to pass the no-confidence motion but after failing to do so they will make excuses such as they were [pressured through] ‘phone calls’ or their members contracted coronavirus,” he quipped.
On rising street crimes in Karachi, the interior minister said government was ready to provide more personnel of Rangers to the Sindh government.
“If Sindh government made request as per the constitution we are ready to deploy Rangers even in police stations for maintenance of law and order in Karachi,” he added.
The minister also expressed concerns over deteriorating law and order situation in the metropolis saying it could have “adverse consequences”.
