Sindh plans operation to cut off terror funding

Karachi
The provincial government will clamp down on terrorists’ revenue-generation activities including extortion, operating illegal hydrants and kidnappings for ransom.
At a meeting of the provincial apex committee on Friday presided over by chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, it was decided that an operation would be launched to cut off terrorists’ sources of financing.
Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad specially participated in the session.
Others who attended the meeting included Karachi corps commander Lt General Naveed Mukhtar, Ranger director general Major Gen Bilal Akbar, information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, finance minister Murad Ali Shah, chief secretary Siddique Memon, home secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali, chief minister’s principal secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Karachi commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui, the law secretary, the Sindh advocate general and representatives of intelligence agencies.
The Rangers director general pointed out that many terrorists belonging to banned outfits had been arrested but special attention needed to be given to their sources of to their funding.
“As far as my sources are concerned, terrorists are generating funds through extortion, running illegal hydrants, kidnappings for ransom and such other means,” he added.
The chief minister observed that the arms and ammunition found in possession of terrorists clearly indicated that they were well-funded.
“I think they are being funded through foreign sources, but the involvement of local hands cannot be ruled out,” he added.
“Therefore, a comprehensive operation against the elements financing terrorism must be started based on comprehensive intelligence work.”
It was also pointed out that unscrupulous elements were hiring the services of private security agencies.
The chief minister directed the home secretary to coordinate with the intelligence agencies and take action where it was required.
The participants of the meeting were informed that licensed arms dealers were also involved in the illegal trade of weapons.
“They are running a parallel government by filling arms licence application forms, stamping them and then making illegal licence books,” the Rangers director general said.
The chief minister directed the home secretary to look into the matter in coordination with the Rangers director general and cancel the licences of such dealers.
The Karachi corps commander said several terrorists had been arrested and now the prosecution must be strong enough to ensure that the law enforcement agencies’ efforts do not go to waste.
He also suggested that the information about the madrassas in the province should be computerised.
“There should be a detailed record [about madrassas] in our system. These details should include their location, number of students and the area where live, the teachers and their areas of residence, the size of the madrassa , its source of income etc,” the corps commander said.
“The chief minister directed the secretary law secretary to take the necessary measures to make this possible and prepare a draft of legislation for this purpose if needed.
He also told the home secretary to coordinate with police to prepare a database of madrassas.
“We will not allow illegal madrassas to continue operating,” the chief minister vowed.
The corps commander also pointed out that land grabbing was also a source of terrorism funding.
“The lands of Karachi are precious and there will be bloody disputes on their possession,” he said.
“Therefore the records of these lands must be computerised,” he added.
The chief minister responded that a scheme to computerise revenue records had been launched on the directives of the then president Asif Ali Zardari.
“Presently, 80 percent records have been computerised and very soon an operation will launched against land grabbers with the help of that information,” he added.
The corps commander also urged police and Rangers to clamp down on the network of kidnappers. He noted that people kidnapped from Karachi were taken to lower Sindh and similarly people abducted there were brought to the city.
The chief minister directed the IGP to restore the police border force.
It was decided at the meeting to give some time to the people in possession of illegal weapons so that they surrender them voluntarily before they were taken to task.
The chief minister directed information and local government minister Sharjeel Inam Memon to reorganise the local tax department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and stop the business of billboards.
Police and Rangers high-ups also briefed the participants of the meeting about the arrangements for the NA-246 by-elections.
The chief minister directed the chief secretary to consult with the election commission for using 250 surveillance cameras of the provincial information technology department on the election day.