Committee formed to deal with Karachi’s issues: Malik  

     
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (APP): Interior Minister Rehman Malik said onTuesday that a joint committee comprising officials from ISI, IB, FIA, Ranger and police had been constituted to restore peace in Karachi, where target killings has claimed scores of lives.The minister told reporters at the Parliament House that in October 2009 a terrorist named Muhammad Shakeel, also nick named as ‘Shakeel Barmi and ‘Iqbal Doctor’ was arrested, who confessed to have planned an attack on Raza Haider.

“We’ve had informed him (Raza Haider) to be vigilant, provided him four persons for security and urged him to avoid public places”, Rehman Malik said.
He said maximum security arrangement including walk-through-gates had been put in place for the funeral of Raza Haider, however, he asked the leadership of MQM not to attend the funeral.
Rehman Malik said Barmi revealed that he had gone to South Wazirsiatan Agency where he met TTP’s suicide attacks mastermind, Qari Hussain, who promised him to provide two suiciders for his nefarious designs.
The minister said another accomplice of Barmi was nabbed two months back which substantiated the fact that it was a network. He accused Sipah e-Sahaba and Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of involvement in the killing of Raza Haider.
Rehman Malik described the killing of Raza Haider as an ulterior motive of Sipah-e-Sahaba and TTP to a fight between ANP and MQM.
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of both parties over their sensible role, and urging workers to stay calm in this crisis.
Rahman Malik said he was determined to control drug, land and criminal mafia as well as knocking down the vicious nexus of Sipah-e-Sahaba and TTP in Karachi.
Asked if there was any operation in Karachi was on card like the one in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan, Rehman Malik said the situation in two areas could not be compared.
However, he informed once amendments were introduced in the law, a massive de-weaponisation drive would be launched not only in Karachi, but in the rest of country.
He said CCPO Karachi would address a press conference in Karachi today and would reveal certain details of the incident.
The minister said sufficient deployment of Rangers had been ensured in Karachi to cope with any untoward situation.
He expressed grief over yesterday’s event, and informed that upto 20 persons had been rounded up in connection with the killing of Raza Haider and destruction that ensued.