‘Operation to go on till last criminal eliminated’

KARACHI: Appreciating the Sindh Rangers for their commitment to restore normality in the metropolis a day after they raided the MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar on Thursday said the ongoing targeted operation will continue till the elimination of the last criminal and target killer.
According to a Rangers press release, during his visit to the Rangers headquarter the corps commander said the operation should continue till the port city was purged of terrorists and criminals.
In a detailed briefing, DG Rangers Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar informed the corps commander that the operation was conducted on Wednesday after confirmed information about the presence of alleged criminals, target killers and anti-social elements along with a heavy cache of arms and ammunition.
He said the Rangers, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders, arrested the absconding criminals sentenced to death for their involvement in targeted killings, while prohibited weapons were recovered from the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall and surrounding offices and houses.
The statement further maintained that those arrested, including the 26 alleged target killers wanted for more than 50 killings, were presented before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday, while 27 others were designated in various FIRs.
“Preventive detention as well as joint investigation of individuals is also being procured. The arrested individuals as well as the seized weapons would be handed over to the city police,” it said.
The DG Rangers directed his force to ensure that nobody threatened the investigation officers (IOs) or court authorities, including the judges, affecting dispensation of justice in any manner.
A total of 130 weapons recovered in the raid included G3 rifles (5), SMGs (23), LMGs (2), 12 bore pump action guns (22), 7mm rifles (19), 8mm rifles (4), 223 bore rifles (2), 22 rifles (25), 222 sniper rifles (3), M4 sniper rifle (1), 30 bore pistols (14), 9mm pistols (4) and suppressors (6); rifle telescopes (5), walkie talkies (36) and bullet-proof jackets (2). Ammunition of different calibre and categories was also retrieved.