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Extortion will be handled with iron hand

Cordoning of areas

will continue: Babar

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister, Nasirullah Khan Babar, said here on Saturday that notwithstanding the resumption of talks on August 29 between Government and MQM negotiating teams, the process of law enforcement will continue.

Addressing a press conference alongwith Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah, at the State Guest House, Nasirullah Babar said that some 70-80 terrorists have been arrested during past couple of months.

Pointing out that there were about 30-40 in custody at Islamabad, the Interior Minister came out with an immediate clarification that they had been formally arrested and were with us on court orders and their confessional statements already recorded.

To a question about an overall law and order situation, Interior Minister said one aspect i.e. killings was not very satisfactory but as far as overall law and order situation was concerned "we have got it where exactly we wanted it". He said when someone gives call for strike, he himself involves in the same as Altaf Hussain had stated that it was just a trailor and the film is yet to be run. In such a situation the people are killed which create resentment among public.

Secondly, he pointed out, Altaf Hussain has been piling up cases against himself and he is showing his own mind - that on what line he is now bent upon. And that may be because he has now little control over here.

"Now we are getting them because our action is continuing and from that point of view we are in much better position where we were two months back".

About killings off non-Urdu people, he said that is also going to create public resentment. He said on Thursday they killed four Sindhi speaking people and another eight on Saturday who belonged to Hazara. He said it can be an act of MQM, and no one else. He said he would be able to give more details about these killings on Sunday.

He said in the Pubjab the partymen of Mian Nawaz Sharif were now telling him that they have nothing to do with MQM.

The Interior Minister told newsmen that the Law Enforcement Agencies were no more cordoning off entire localities. They were now going for targets, searches and actions.

He said the terrorists who killed a police Inspector on Friday have been arrested and identified as Naeem and Waseem, both brothers and son of Altaf Bichhu, all activists of MQM.

Nasirullah Babar disclosed that one of the attackers on the BBC Bureau Office at Islamabad, stated to be the members of student wing of Anjuman Sapaha-e-Sahaba, has been arrested.

He said that there was no confirmation of use of arms during attack on BBC Bureau Office. He said the attackers had used Dandas. He pointed out that some said they heard the shot of a pistol and some said they did not hear. He said use of arm is a disputed matter.

Regarding Mid-air attack on a MNA two days back, the Interior Minister said that inquiry into the incident was going on. He pointed out that this attack was the result of a 20 year old enemity. He said previously too a man was arrested while giving a time device to kill the MNA.

However, he pointed out, the airguards did act swiftly and accurately during the mishap.

Replying to a question, Nasirullah Babar said that all those arrested so far will be produced before the court.

Regarding Hashamuzzafar, he said that although his trial has not yet started, he has given his confessional statement. "He is with us on court order", he added.

When told that despite government commitment of not surrounding whole localities, law enforcement agencies surrounded Lines Area a couple of days back, Nasirullah Babar said that previously the government was blamed of supporting MQM (Haqiqi) but this myth has been broken now.

Replying to a question the Interior Minister said that during search of a house in the Lines Area, one person was offering prayer while the other one present there spoke to the law enforcers in Punjabi, whereas the fact was that both were activists and name of one of them was Saleem.

He further pointed out that seige of Lines Area was not without any purpose. The criminals who have taken shelter there were involved in acts of extortion. He asked the journalists to go to Tariq Road and ask shopkeepers there about them. He said a large number of complaints have been received against the extortionists in Lines area.

Besides, he said, if there had not been an "inside information", how they could have recovered 15 Kalashnikovs, five bags of bullets and a rocket launcher from a garbage dump.

He emphasised that such action becomes warranted in unusual circumstances. He said Government is not supporting any terrorist whether it was within MQM or Jiay Sindh or anyother organization.

Replying to a question about utilization of sugar recovered from hoarders as a result of FIA raids on their godowns, the Interior Minister said that with the consent of Provincial Government it has been decided that some of the consigment will be marketted and the other sold through Utility Stores and Jumma and other bazars to facilitate the people by all means.

The Interior Minister denied continued smuggling of arms and ammunition into Karachi and said a tight situation has been created for terrorists by sealing the entry routes.-APP