'I was not taken into confidence over Karachi operation'

Sindh home minister says he was not taken into confidence
over operation; Malik blames it on miscommunication.

Tribune

KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Zulifqar Mirza on Thursday strongly condemned the Rangers’ operation in Karachi, adding that he was not taken into confidence over the operation.

Addressing the Sindh Assembly, Zulfiqar Mirza said a democratically elected government is operational in Pakistan, and the country is not under marshal law. He said he has given the authority to Rangers and can strip them of their powers if he wants to.

He said the federal government might have ordered the operation directly.

Mirza said the Sindh chief minister, Inspector General, and Karachi Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) were also not taken into confidence before the operation.

Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik played down the statements given by Zulfiqar Mirza.

Responding to Mirza’s claim that he had not been consulted over the Karachi operation, Malik blamed it on mis-communication. He said that the Rangers and police are subservient to the provincial home minister.

Malik said he will ensure that intelligence given by the federal government is shared with the the provincial government and acted upon in the future.

Malik further claimed that three major incidents of violence have been foiled in Karachi.