Pak PM Sharif orders tough action on Karachi unrest

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said targeted operations to curb violence will continue in this port city and directed security forces to ignore political affiliations of criminals while dealing with them.
Sharif said that restoring peace in Karachi, the country's largest city, is of vital importance as it is the economic hub of Pakistan.
He made the remarks while chairing a meeting to review law and order situation at the Governor House here.
Sharif was told that since September this year, 63,475 raids and 455 encounters have been conducted while 74 criminals (target killers and terrorists) have been arrested.

He said that, "Karachi operation will continue till fulfilment of its objectives," a statement released by his office said.
He added, "I stand by Police and Rangers and they should treat criminals as criminals and must not care about the criminals' affiliations."

Many of the criminals in the city are known to have political affiliations.
The Prime Minister directed immediate implementation of "Protection of Pakistan Ordinance" to deal with heinous crimes and offenders.
He directed the law enforcing agencies and the Sindh government to shift terrorists to other provinces for trial so that safety of prosecutors and witnesses is ensured.

During the meeting, Sharif was told that request for establishment of new anti-terrorism courts and appointment of new judges has been sent to Chief Justice of Sindh High Court.
Sharif said high-value and hardened criminals should be tried in other provinces and mafias inside jails should be dismantled.
He further directed that all illegal mobile SIMs should be blocked and biometric system should be henceforth used for issuance of new SIMs.