Next 90 days to decide fate of Karachi operation: Thebo

Karachi
According to Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo, the next three months will make or break the ongoing crackdown against militancy and crime in the city.
“We have reports that after losing scores of their comrades and leaders at the hands of law-enforcement agencies during the Karachi operation, various groups of militants, terrorists and criminals have joined hands and are now collaborating with each other for their survival,” he said while talking to The News on Monday.
“To be able to survive and put pressure on police and other law-enforcement agencies, groups of terrorists and militants can carry out more attacks on policemen and important personalities in the city. The next three to four months are crucial to decide the fate of Karachi operation. All police officials have to be extremely vigilant about their personal security and putting up a strong resistance to sectarian terrorists and militants.”
A couple of days ago, said Thebo, he had collectively briefed all Station House Officers and Investigation Officers about the current nexus of terrorist and militant outfits, their collaboration and cooperation with each other and the threats they posed to law enforcers in the city.
“Intelligence reports indicate that sectarian terrorists, especially groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and their affiliates have joined hands and are helping out each other in carrying out attacks on the police,” said the city police chief. “They are trying to demoralise the police force by persistent attacks and terror activities.”
This was why, he said, it was important to put up a strong front against them. “If we show any weakness ad slacken even for a bit, the militant forces will become stronger,” he said. “We have to eliminate them once and for all.”
Thebo emphasised on police officials to be careful about their own security so the terrorists do not get a chance to succeed in their nefarious designs.
“If a senior SHO or police official is killed by terrorists in the city, his martyrdom not only demoralises the entire police force but also boosts the morale of assailants,” he said. “SHOs and police officers should be highly vigilant of their own besides protection of their men on the ground.”
Only a four days ago days ago, the SHO of Preedy police station Inspector Aijaz Ali Khwaja, who had been travelling unarmed, unaccompanied and without his uniform, was shot dead in Akhtar Colony while driving to work.
Referring to his death, Thebo lamented that the deceased inspector did not take his own security seriously, hence becoming an easy target for terrorists.
He said SHO Khawaja had been provided with a bullet-proof vehicle by the police department for his protection because he had solved a number of high-profile cases and was also working on several more before his death.
“But he used his personal car and took no guards with him, making him an easy target for assassins,” he said.
Stressing the importance on all police officials and investigators to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the city police chief said it was imperative for them to maintain law and order, work in coordination with each other, their superiors and also other law-enforcement agencies.
“Moreover, he said, I have also asked police officials to continue to strive against routine crime, especially snatching of motorbikes and cell phones, elimination of drug and gambling dens and other illegal activities in their jurisdictions,” he said.
“The police officials have also been asked to pay attention to how they deal with people. We are also working to curb their habit of fleecing people on petty issues, creation of hurdles in acting on genuine complaints. By winning the hearts and minds of common people policemen can perform miracles while fighting terrorists and criminals.”
The police department has also devised an alert system in collaboration with Ufone and it can prove to be pivotal in responding to terrorist and criminal activities on time, he added.