AAMIR SAEED

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said that at least 713 terrorists, 118 kidnappers and 517 extortionists have been arrested so far during the ongoing Karachi operation.

While responding to questions in the National Assembly, he said that the incidence of targeted killings has decreased by at least 43 percent in Karachi after the operation. As many as 630 wanted criminals have been apprehended so far, he added. Nisar said that murder incidents have lessened by 37 percent while acts of terror by at least 6.7 percent. The Interior Minister said that operation in Karachi is not against any political party but against terrorists and criminals.

Nisar also put forth details of foreign nationals residing in Pakistan. He said that if the assembly permits, the Interior Ministry could compile a comprehensive report of the people involved in illegal and immoral activities which would include country’s influential.

A written reply to a question says that at least 116,308 Afghan nationals are living in Pakistan while British citizens come second on the list with a total of 79,447. The federal minister said that the number of United States (US) citizens living in Pakistan is 52,040. The number of Canadian and Indian nationals is 16,501 and 17,320 respectively.

The minister said the government is also working on new policies on registration of private security companies, visa policy, Exit Control List and arm licenses that would be introduced in parliament soon.

Responding to another question, he said that 19 private security companies are registered in Islamabad while new registration of the companies is banned. The minister said that in the past hundreds of licenses were issued to the private security agencies but they were not even able to taking care of their own employees. The companies which hire security personnel from these agencies were also not satisfied with their performance, he said.

Nisar said that when the ministry took a notice, it was observed that some employees of the security agencies do not even know how to operate arms. Moreover, some of them were found involved in criminal activities. Elaborating some features of the new registration of security agencies policy, the minister said the government would bind the security agencies to train their employees annually and to give security to their clients according to their charter, etc.

He said issuance of licenses in the province was jurisdiction of the provincial governments and he would hold meetings with all chief ministers so that a standard policy could be implemented across the country.

To another question, he said that strict action had been taken against beggars in the federal capital and directed the concerned authorities to hand over the deserving to the NGOs and send professional beggars to jail.

The minister said there was no restriction on foreigners’ visits who are here to invest and meet their relatives in any country including Pakistan but everybody should follow the law.

He said in the past so many people had entered the country illegally but the present government had taken a strict action against these persons, including drug-traffickers, peddlers and prostitutes and canceled their passports.

To another question regarding passport offices, he said there were 79 passport offices across the country and government was planning to double this figure very soon.

Nisar said that Planning Commission of Pakistan has also given approval in this regard, adding that in the past passport offices were opened in villages on political basis. But, now the government would establish new passport offices across the country on merit.

The Interior Minister suspended four concerned officials of the interior ministry for not giving answers to four questions asked by the members.

He also apologized to the Chair and House on the issue and assured that it would not happen in the future.