KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has hinted at a breakthrough in the recent cases of policemen’s killing and an attempt on the life of leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, claiming that law enforcement and intelligence agencies had achieved “major successes” after the series of raids and operations in the past two days.

In his brief interaction with the media at PAF Base Masroor after attending a Defence Day ceremony on Wednesday, Mr Shah did not elaborate the nature of the success. However, sources said, some high-profile militants had been arrested in recent raids.

The chief minister did not reveal the number of arrests but said the killings were not the job of just one gang. “Different gangs are involved in these incidents,” he said. “Some major arrests were made last night [Tuesday] and such gangs have been busted. This success would also help eliminate organised terrorism and crimes in the city. We have destroyed them to a considerable extent but still a lot of work has to be done.”

Police maintain ambiguity about reported arrest of Ansarul Sharia head

Though the police neither confirmed nor denied the news reports on TV channels about the arrest of Ansarul Sharia Pakistan’s chief known as Dr Abdullah Hashmi in a raid on his house in Kaneez Fatima Housing Society, SSP Malir Rao Anwar, who has been actively involved in recent anti-militant operations, made a few claims lending strength to the reports of such a “success”.

“We have broken their [ASP] network,” SSP Anwar told Dawn. “We have seized several important objects, including gadgets, from the home of Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqi, a suspected mastermind of the assassination attempt on key man of the MQM, Khwaja Izharul Hasan. [The gadgets] could help the investigators in solving the cases. With proactive policing and strong intelligence network, we have been coordinating with all law enforcement and intelligence agencies and also keeping an eye on Balochistan.”

According to SSP Anwar, not much was known about members of the ASP network previously but “important” progress has been made as police, the Rangers, intelligence agencies and CTD have been working in close coordination with each other.

Sources told Dawn that law enforcers on Wednesday informed the chief minister that “some important arrests” were made on Tuesday night that could help the law enforcers to completely smash the network of the newly formed militant outfit.

“Some important success was achieved against terrorists on Tuesday night,” the chief minister said, adding that three different gangs involved in the killing of policemen had been busted. “This success would help in eliminating organised terrorism and crime in the city,” said Mr Shah while talking to the media at Masroor Base where the PAF had organised a programme to celebrate Defence Day.

CM Shah said terrorism was a major challenge for his government. The country and its law enforcement agencies were fighting against terrorists bravely, as the people of Pakistan stood united and had given full support to the police, the Rangers and other agencies to fight against them. “We have destroyed them to a considerable extent but still a lot of work has to be done,” he said.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said that some issues related to offal lifting and lethargy of local bodies in this regard on the first and second day of Eid were reported. “I have warned the local bodies to work dedicatedly in the interest of the cleanliness of the city, otherwise I would take strict action,” he said. However, Mr Shah explained that over two

million cattle were sacrificed this year. As it was a big number, arrangements for keeping the city clean had been made accordingly, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017