Interior ministry report: Punjab tops list of abduction cases

Tribune
Province also has the most number of incidents of violence against women.

ISLAMABAD: Punjab tops the disturbingly long list of criminal cases of kidnapping for ransom and violence against women in Pakistan.

According to official documents of the interior ministry tabled in the National Assembly by Interior Minister Rehman Malik during question hour about the law and order situation in the country on Wednesday, a total of 2,300 persons were kidnapped for ransom from 2007 to 2010 in the four provinces and 11,789 women were subjected to violence in the last two years between 2009 and 2010. Punjab topped in both categories.

Out of 2,300 cases of kidnapping for ransom in the country, 834 were reported in Punjab. Similarly, out of 11,789 cases of violence against women, 8,433 cases were reported in country’s largest province.

Islamabad, too, witnessed an increase in cases of kidnapping for ransom last year. As compared to 12 cases in 2007, a total of 23 persons were kidnapped in 2010.

In 2007, a total of 449 persons were kidnapped, but in the following year, 2008, the figure went up to 670 – an increase of 221 cases. In 2009, there were 645 cases.

A breakdown of the figures shows that, in 2007, Punjab saw 190 cases of kidnapping for ransom, followed by Sindh’s 134, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) 87, Balochistan 26 and Islamabad with 12 cases.

In 2008, of the 670 cases of kidnapping for ransom Punjab was once again at the top with 248, while Sindh had 217 cases, K-P 150, Balochistan 35 and Islamabad 20. In 2009, a total of 645 cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered, out of which 224 were in Punjab, 188 in Sindh, 180 in K-P, 37 in Balochistan and 16 were in Islamabad. In 2010, 604 cases were reported out of which 192 were in Punjab, 177 in Sindh, 162 in K-P, 50 in Balochistan and 23 were in Islamabad.

More deaths across Karachi

Rangers patrol the streets of Khi as target killings continue. 

TRIBUNE

KARACHI: Violence has claimed six more lives in gunshot incidents in different areas of Karachi, despite ongoing search operations and Rangers being given additional powers in the metropolis.

Shootings were reported in Orangi town, Lyari, Manghopir, Aslam Barohi Colony and Sohrab Goth today (Thursday). Rangers were called in to administer matters of security in the city and a partial curfew has been imposed.

A provincial level All Parties Conference (APC) will be held in Karachi next week to discuss the law and order situation. The APC will discuss efforts and means for improving the law and order situation in the violence-hit city.

The decision to hold the APC was taken during a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s house in Karachi. It was attended by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah and Home minister Zulfiqar Mirza. The three leaders have decided to meet every fortnight to ensure close coordination. Police and Rangers will be coordinating with the Sindh Home Department to implement measures to combat violence in Sindh.

Karachi violence: 400 suspects arrested

About 400 suspects were arrested in a search
operation by Rangers in the Faqir Colony area.

Tribune

KARACHI: About 400 suspects were arrested in a search operation by Rangers in the Faqir Colony area of Orangi Town in Karachi early Tuesday morning.

Large contingents of Rangers entered the colony and conducted a door to door search operation. The suspects were detained and shifted to an unknown place for interrogation. Roads leading to and from Orangi Town have also been closed.

Due to the recent wave of target killings in Karachi, Rangers have been given police powers to conduct search operations, set up check points and detain and investigate suspects in the city.

Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said that a “curfew-like” situation would be enforced in all sensitive parts of Karachi to curb violence.

Authorities decided to increase police and Ranger presence in violence-prone areas. This was decided at an earlier meeting held by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, which was attended by the federal interior minister.

According to the strategy, aerial surveillance would be intensified and helicopters would be used to airdrop police commandos to contain armed conflicts.

Law-enforcement agencies have also been asked to take action against users of stolen or snatched cellular phones.

People living in affected areas have been asked to keep their CNICs with them and they will only be allowed to go about their work after proper scrutiny.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also tasked to keep an eye on possible movement of suspicious elements at Karachi airport to stop them from escaping from the city.

Karachi killings’ toll mounts to 27 within 48 hours

SAMAA


KARACHI: The toll of ongoing killings row in Karachi on Friday night has mounted to27 within last 48 hours and yet it is feared that many more can be targeted in current violence spree in the metropolis.


During latest killings’ incidents in the city today, a rickshaw driver was shot dead by unknown attackers in Pak Colony, a sixty-year old persons was killed in Bokhari Colony, orange town, 35-year old Barkat lost his life near Qasba Mor, a 40-year old unidentified person perished near Qatar Hospital and 35-year old Rustam Jan was targeted near Metro Cinema in Banaras Colony.


Further more, an activist of a political party Muhammad Zafar, 55 was shot dead on Jamia Milia Road in Malir, Zubair Rahim was killed in North Karachi and another activist of a political party Naveed Noori was targeted in north Nazimabad.


Earlier in the first half of the day, four persons had been killed, including a pilot of Sindh Chief Minister’s helicopter, in the city on Friday.


Retired major, Iqbal Kashmiri, was shot dead near Rabia City, Gulistan-e-Jauhar. He was a pilot of Sindh Chief Minister’s helicopter and an employee of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).


Last night, a 60 year old man's bullet riddled corpse was found from Jam Sadiq Bridge, Korangi. Another person was gunned down in Chakra Goth, Korangi.


Six more were killed when unidentified persons opened fire on a local bus in Qasba Colony, Orangi Town. Five others were hurt in the firing; a 25-year old man was gunned down in Liaqatabad No. 6.