Interior Minister, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Thursday told the parliament that nearly 250 terrorists have fled the port city of Karachi after the paramilitary troops launched operations and they have now entered the Waziristan tribal region.
The security forces have launched targeted operations against the terrorists, target killers, extortionists, kidnappers and criminal gangs in Karachi following sharp increase in terrorist activities, killings, kidnapping for ransom and crimes.
Paramilitary Rangers are leading the operation with the support of intelligence agencies and police and have arrested hundreds of suspects over the past few weeks.
The Interior Minister told the National Assembly that terrorists from Karachi have started moving to other places.
“Over 250 terrorists in small groups have entered in North Waziristan since the targeted operation has been launched in Karachi,” he told the Lower House of the parliament.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the terrorists in Karachi are on the run but they will find no place to hide and will be brought to justice.
Rights groups say that nearly 1800 people have been killed in target attacks in the first six of this year.
The Minister said the toll of target killing in Karachi has substantially been reduced to lower part of single digit‚ however‚ it is beginning of the operation.
He said the Rangers have carried out four hundred targeted actions in Karachi and have arrested a number of target killers and other suspects.
He said the first phase of the operation is going to end soon but the second and third phases are crucial, adding the first phase of the targeted operation has not yet been completed and the Rangers have got remarkable successes in the phase.
He said that the targeted operation will be further intensified in the second and third phases.
On the issue of talks with the Taliban, the minister said the killing of senior military officers in the Taliban attack on Sunday has caused a setback to the proposed peace talks. He however requested political parties to not politicize the Taliban attack in the northwestern Upper Dir district.
He lauded all political parties’ efforts to develop consensus on the operation being carried out in Karachi and said without the realization of collective responsibility success is not possible. Ch. Nisar said the things are moving in the right direction in the captaincy of Chief Minister Sindh.
He said the so called Mohajir Republic Army has no link with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
