Karachi: Around 250 policemen have been killed in an ongoing operation against militants and criminals in Pakistan's largest city, a top police official said on Saturday and asked the government to provide them advanced weapons to fight the anti-social elements.
Ghulam Haider Jamali, Inspector General of Police in the southern Sindh province, admitted that Karachi faces a serious threat from militants hiding in the city. "What is of concern is that these terrorists have more sophisticated weapons and advanced tracking devices and skills compared to our police force," he said.
Jamali said that the militants were well-trained in making explosives and devices. "This is one reason that ever since the operation was started against militants and criminals in Karachi in the last one year around 250 policemen or officers have been martyred in operations, target killings and explosions," he said.
His comments came two days after a bomb blast targeted a senior police official involved in the operation against terrorists. SSP Farooq Awan survived the attack in a posh area of the city, but two civilians were killed in the blast.
This year two other senior police officials involved in operations have been assassinated by militants. Chaudhary Aslam was killed in a bomb blast while Shafiq Tanoli was targeted in a bomb attack. In the wake of the threats to the lives of policemen, the IG Sindh said there was a need for the government to provide advanced weapons, armoured cars and bomb-proof vehicles to take on the terrorists.
Militants from northern areas and tribal agencies of the country have taken refuge in Karachi, a financial and economic hub. Despite the cleanup operation in Karachi, target killings have continued unabated. Sectarian, political and ethnic target killings are a common occurrence in the metropolitan city.
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