Army, Rangers to launch major operation in Sindh province
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In Karachi, the Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, gave the green light on Friday for a joint operation by the Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers to combat dacoits in the riverine area of the province.
This decision was made during the 28th meeting of the provincial APEX committee. The operation will target dacoits in Sukkur and Larkana divisions, with concerns raised over their interference with the construction of the Ghotki-Kashmore bridge.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers and security officials, including Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar, Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar, Director General (DG) Sindh Rangers Major General Azhar Waqas, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, and others.
IGP Mukhtar provided information on the situation in the riverine area, stating that approximately 50 to 60 dacoits were active in the Katcha area, along with their tribesmen. He highlighted the police's preparations, including the establishment of eight forward base camps with 50 personnel each in four districts, and the creation of 400 police check posts, of which 210 had already been set up with 3,200 policemen deployed.
Regarding the issue of kidnappings for ransom, IGP Mukhtar reported a total of 220 kidnappings in 2023, with the majority in Larkana, Sukkur, and Karachi. However, he noted that 210 of the kidnapped individuals had been rescued. In response to the need for advanced military weapons, Corp Commander Lt General Babar Iftikhar mentioned that the Ministries of Defence and Interior had granted clearance for procurement.
This development followed the recent discovery of a substantial cache of military-grade weapons in Ghotki. Lt General Babar Iftikhar also directed Sindh Rangers to provide security for the Ghotki-Kashmore bridge construction site workers.
