Army kicks off countrywide operation Raddul Fasaad

Navy, Air Force, Rangers, civil armed forces to take part in operation against terrorists; Rangers given special powers in Punjab; COAS heads security meeting attended by corps commanders of Punjab; Gen Bajwa says borders to be made secure and country to be purged of weapons; eight militants killed as PAF jets pound hideouts in Khyber Agency; eight terrorists, including TTP-Karachi commander, killed in police encounter

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army has launched 'Operation Raddul Fasaad' across the country aimed at indiscriminately eliminating the threat of terrorism and consolidating gains of operations carried out so far and further ensuring the security of the borders.

“The countrywide operation is aimed at indiscriminately eliminating residual and latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of operations made so far and further ensuring security of the borders,” DG Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said, adding that the pursuance of the National Action Plan (NAP) would be the hallmark of this operation.

Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Rangers, Civil Armed Forces (CAFs) and other security and Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) would continue to actively participate in the efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.

The efforts entail conduct of Broad Spectrum Security/Counter Terrorism (CT) operations by the Rangers in the Punjab, continuation of the ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management. “Countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control are additional cardinals of the effort,” Major General Asif Ghafoor said.

It is understood that the decision to launch ‘Operation Raddul Fassad’ has been taken following the wave of terror attacks in different parts of the four provinces. Following the suicide attack at the Sehwan Sharif shrine, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, maintained that each drop of nations would be avenged and there would be no more restraint for anyone.

The army chief during visit to the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday categorically stated that they were fully aware of Indian designs and her support to terrorism in Pakistan and the region. “Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadev is one such evidence of these designs and his case will be taken to the logical conclusion,” he said.

Meanwhile, a meeting, headed by Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, approved the deployment of theRangers in the Punjab for 60 days.

National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua and Secretary Interior Arif Khan were part of the meeting that took the decision. Punjab Chief Secretary Shaukat Hayat, Home Secretary Major (retd) Suleman Azam, Punjab IGP Mushtaq Sukhera and other officials were also in the attendance.

The sources claimed that total five wings of the Rangers would be deployed in the Punjab out of which two would remain as reserved. The sources claimed that under the law, specific areas would be specified for the issuance of notification, however, no area had so far been specified. The areas would be specified on the basis of intelligence reports.

Under new temporary powers, the Rangers will be allowed to carry out operations in case of emergency. The raids will be carried out on the basis of intelligence reports. The request for deployment of the Rangers in the Punjab was made after a series of suicide attacks across the country, including one in Lahore on February 13, in which 14 people, including policemen were killed.

Speaking about the government’s decision, the federal minister said: “The government is determined to completely eradicate terrorism.” He further stated that the government was resolute to provide assistance to all the provinces. “National unity is required to fight terrorism,” Nisar said.

The sources said that the Rangers would use their authority in certain parts of the province, particularly Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The Rangers will be given powers to facilitate law enforcement agencies in the Punjab in accordance with the Pakistan Rangers Act Sections 7 and 10 and Anti-Terrorism Act’s (ATA 1997) Section 5.

Under section 5, the Rangers would enjoy the following powers as read by the ATA law.

“Use of armed forces and civil armed forces to prevent terrorism:

1) Any police officer, or member of the armed forces, or civil armed forces who is present or deployed in any area may, after giving sufficient warning, use the necessary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts or scheduled offences, and in so doing shall, in the case of an officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces, exercise all the powers of a police officer under the Code. 2) In particular and without prejudice to generality of the provisions of subsection(1), an officer of the police, armed forces and civil armed forces may:-- i. After giving prior warning use such force as may be deemed necessary or appropriate bearing in mind all the facts and circumstances of the situation, against a person who is committing [4] a terrorist act or a scheduled offence, and it shall be lawful for such an officer, or any superior officer, to fire, or order the firing upon any person or persons against whom he is authorised to use force in terms hereof: ii. Arrest, without warrant, any person who has committed an act of terrorism or a scheduled offence or against whom a reasonable suspicion exist that he has committed, or is about to commit, any such act or offence; and iii. Enter and search, without warrant any premises to make any arrest or to take possession of any property, fire-arm, weapon or article used, or likely to be used, offence.”

The request to deploy the Rangers was made under Article 147 of the Constitution, which allows the provincial government to entrust its functions to the federation, and Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

According to Article 7, the paramilitary force “can assist the police in prevention and detection of crime in border areas and reinforce the police for maintenance of law and order.”

Moreover, Article 10 allows the government to “confer or impose upon any member of the force powers or duties conferred or imposed on a police officer of any class or grade by any enactment.”

Meanwhile, According to ISPR press statement, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired an important session on regional security in Lahore. The session summoned all Corps Commanders of the Punjab.

Moreover, Punjab Rangers Director General and heads of intelligence agencies also attended the session.

Security situation of the region was discussed in the session. It was reported that multiple decisions of great significance had been taken in the meeting.

It was decided during the conference wherever the terrorists were, they would be identified and killed. Gen Bajwa said during the session that special emphasis would be given on border management.

Earlier, at least seven suspected militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jetfighters pounded hideouts of the terrorists in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, official sources said.

The sources said that the PAF jetfighters targeted the hideouts of the proscribed militant groups including Lashkar-e-Islam and Islamic States (IS) or Daesh in Rajgal, Kachkool and Kandao Gharibi areas in Tirah valley near Pak-Afghan border.

At least seven suspected militants were killed and several others sustained injuries. Three hideouts were destroyed as well.

The Torkham border remained closed on the sixth day. The security forces deployed fresh contingents and heavy artillery along the border with Afghanistan.

The curfew was imposed on Torkham border and all the offices and market places remained closed on the sixth day. Hundreds of cabs and heavy trucks were seen parked at various locations in Khyber Agency waiting for reopening of the Torkham border.

Meanwhile, eight alleged terrorists including an 11-year-old would-be suicide bomber were killed in an encounter with police early Wednesday morning in the limits of Malir police station.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP- Malir), Rao Anwar, sharing details of the incident with the media, said it was an intelligence-based action leading to an encounter with terrorists allegedly involved in target killing, kidnapping for ransom and also attacking police and other law enforcing agencies of the country.

The raid was said to be conducted at a house located near BakraPiri area off Malir City during which a rifle, repeater, six pistols, a lap top and IED material were also recovered from the possession of the alleged terrorists.

Only two of those killed could be identified, said SSP Rao Anwar mentioning that they included TTP-Karachi Chief, Gul Zaman, who originally hailed from Tank (KP) and had also served as TTP Chief for Tank.

"Those killed included Gul Zaman, the TTP chief of Karachi besides Taj Mohammad alias Lala and also an 11-year-old boy presumably a suicide bomber," said the senior police officer. The identified terrorists were said to be involved in killing of doctors and other prominent people belonging to a certain sect.