KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers Sindh Director General Maj Gen Bilal Akbar has said that Karachi operation will continue until its logical end.
He said that there is no hurdle in the way of the operation and the Sindh and federal governments will resolve their issues amicably.
“Despite the ongoing push and pulls, I have been clearly instructed by the heads of armed forces and the federal government to go on with Karachi operation. The future of Karachi operation is bright and it will continue until it reaches its logical conclusion,” DG Rangers said. He was replying to BMG chairman’s remarks in which Siraj Teli had said, “Action speaks louder than words and the same depicts in the performance of Pakistan Rangers who have successfully shown the results in Karachi operation which is highly praised by the entire business and industrial community of Karachi.”
Siraj Teli, however, feared that attempts were being made once again to plunge this city to the same position where it was almost two decades ago. He said that the business and industrial community will always support Rangers and the governments to restore complete peace and tranquility in Karachi.
Chairman Businessmen Group and former president KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, vice chairmen BMG and former presidents KCCI Tahir Khaliq, Zubair Motiwala and Haroon Farooki, president KCCI Younus Muhammad Bashir, senior vice president KCCI Zia Ahmed Khan, vice president KCCI Muhammad Naeem Sharif and KCCI managing committee members attended the meeting in camera, along with an special gathering of over 175 members representing different markets and industrial zones.
Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar accepted the demand of Siraj Teli to formulate a Coordination Committee with whom Rangers’ officials could share evidences and discuss suspicious activities of any businessman or industrialist prior to taking action and Rangers will never spoil anyone’s reputation because of any by chance or unintentional incident but will only take action in clear and solid actionable cases. This action will now be taken after bringing the issue to the notice of KCCI’s Coordination Committee. The demand to formulate Coordination Committee was immediately accepted when Siraj Teli pointed out that the law and order situation and these crimes of Bhattas etc. were flourishing in the city for the last 20-25 years and all the Business & Industrial Community have been participating either under duress or willingly giving Zakat or donation to party/election funds as per the situations and today in some files or registers of such institutions, anybody can find our names and the amount or kind participation which does not mean we have any part in their activities.
On the occasion, Siraj Teli cited an examples of a particular Industry where Rangers went to check on the basis of false information provided by some unscrupulous person or department in such a manner which gives the wrong impression about the integrity of the concerned businessman. Maj Gen Bilal Akbar understood the situation and gave the responsibility to Karachi Chamber to decide and it was agreed that the President of Karachi Chamber will be contacted in such cases privately and there will be a three member committee comprising the President-KCCI, one Senior Leader and a representative of concerned Market Association or Industrial Zone whose case needs to be decided. Siraj Teli clearly stated that as per the policy of Businessmen Group we will not support in case we find the evidence to be correct.
Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar further assured that no action will be taken against any businessman or industrialist who has somehow been the victim of extortion and such individuals are not being considered as ‘facilitators’. “Not a single member of the Business Community will be taken into custody on the basis of suspicion only. As of today, I don’t have anything serious against any businessman, any industrialist or any trader”, he added.
Maj. Gen. Bilal Akbar was thankful for the support extended by the Business and Industrial Community of Karachi along with untiring efforts being made by Rangers’ official, the security situation of Karachi has improved to a certain extent. “The element of fear has been reducing and it will reduce further in the days to come. Our Operation is not against any political entity but only against criminals which will continue without any discrimination. We will never allow anyone to hold strikes, shut down petrol pumps or ablaze vehicles”, DG Ranger added. In response to concerns expressed over rising street crimes, failure of police officers to control the situation and Business Community’s queries whether rangers is mandated to control street crimes or not, DG Rangers informed that Rangers will now undertake operations to effectively deal with rising street crimes in Karachi.
Referring to concerns expressed by Siraj Kassam Teli with regards to politicizing of police and the suggestions about depoliticizing and capacity building of police department along with implementation of an effective system for ensuring sustainable peace in Karachi so that police could become capable enough to maintain peace even after the conclusion Karachi Operation in the next two to three years, DG Rangers said that he was also worried about this issue and opined that reformation of police must also happen simultaneously with the ongoing Karachi Operation in order to make police department responsible enough to play the lead role in maintaining peace across Karachi city. He also offered Rangers’ assistance in the capacity building, recruitment and training of police officers so that they could efficiently maintain peace on long term and sustainable basis.
In reply to KCCI’s request, DG Rangers agreed to reactivate Rangers Cell at KCCI premises where Rangers’ officials will be available to listen to and resolve issues being faced by KCCI members.
