Peace will be restored to all parts of Karachi, says COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Sunday commended the sacrifices and achievements of the Sindh Rangers which have brought about a significant improvement in the law and order situation in Karachi so far.

General Raheel visited the headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi, where he was briefed in detail by the DG Rangers on the ongoing operations, the prevailing security situation and the way forward for the Karachi operation.

Talking to the troops, the army chief said that determination, courage and resolve of the Sindh Rangers to rid the city of terrorists and criminals has 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 will continue till the achievement of the objective of peace and restoring normalcy in all parts of Karachi. “Every assistance, including intelligence and material combat support, will be provided to the Rangers to accomplish their mission,” he said.

Referring to the recent incidents, the COAS directed all commanders, including those of the intelligence agencies, to continue working hand in glove and leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators.General Raheel also visited the corps headquarters in Karachi in the evening.

Interior Minster Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Home Minister Sindh Sohail Anwar Sial, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Gen Rizwan Akhtar and Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar attended the meeting. Participants were briefed in detail on the security situation and various aspects of the ongoing operation against terrorists, criminals and their linkages in Karachi.

The COAS said the ongoing operation had brought about a noticeable improvement in the law and order situation of Karachi. “However, as we progress to target the crime and terror syndicate network, we need to keep our focus on actionable human and technical intelligence and totally dismantle their support structure,” he said.

The army chief said the operation has now entered into a phase where terrorists and their abettors are badly bruised, isolated and hence will go for softer targets so as to find their survival and undermine the society psychologically. The COAS instructed all concerned to hunt them down and pre-empt their moves to frustrate their designs.

“We must continue our mission unabated to consolidate and not let anyone reverse our gains,” he said.Assuring the people ofemphasised that the nexus of terrorists, their abettors, sympathisers and financiers will be broken at all costs and ongoing operation will be taken to its logical conclusion. He urged all stakeholders for earnest endeavours in respective spheres within the overall ‘Whole of the Nation Approach’ for overcoming the menace of terrorism.

He exhorted all commanders including those of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to continue working hand in glove and leave no stone unturned for restoration of total peace in the city. Measures to build capacity of other law enforcers were also discussed for lasting peace in the economic hub of the country.