Karachi: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that targeted action was launched in Karachi against terrorists involved in the killing of innocent people and at least 89 miscreants were also arrested during the operation.
Talking to media after being given briefing by the Rangers and police on Friday the minister told the ethnicities of the arrested terrorists, saying 19 Pukhtoons, 12 Urdu speaking and others were held by the law enforcement agencies. He said situation will take time to be normalize, adding that
Malik said that FC officials are being deployed in the affected areas of the city while more contingent could be called in if needed. He reiterated that some areas would be handed over to Rangers.
He said that the Rangers and police were set to after the terrorists, but the media would not be allowed for live coverage as the area was dangerous.
Malik added that the terrorists took shelters behind children and woman to avoid arrest. He said the affected areas very congested and the police and Rangers faced difficulties in taking action against miscreants.
The minister said The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party have been taken onboard about the action and both the parties were providing assistant.
He said he had asked Altaf Hussain and Asfand Yar Wali Khan to ask their activists to show restraint. The interior minister told that 89 slain people were innocent citizen and no one was affiliated with any political party.
Malik said force could be brought from other provinces if needed