KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting Wednesday with Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar and Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar during his visit to Karachi.
During the meeting at Pakistan Air Force's Faisal Base, the premier was also briefed on the ongoing targeted operation in the metropolis.
The DG Rangers and Karachi Corps Commander also briefed the premier on the city's law and order situation.
The premier was also apprised over the ongoing targeted operation in the metropolis and the investigation carried out after the recent raid and arrests at Nine Zero.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was also present in the meeting.
The Karachi operation will be brought to an eventual conclusion and peace will be restored in the city, PM Nawaz said.
Karachi operation not against any political party: PM Nawaz
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing an awards distribution ceremony of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on Wednesday, said that the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi is not directed at any political party but only "criminals".
His statement comes in the wake of the raid earlier this month by Rangers on the Nine Zero headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood.
The raid, an unprecedented move by law enforcement agencies, drew heavy criticism from MQM leadership who alleged that such search operations were akin to "terrorism".
The premier shed light on the government's accomplishments in its fight against terrorism by terming the ongoing military operation against terrorists as "successful".
PM Nawaz said that the government is on its way to eliminating terrorism from the country and that ongoing operations have destroyed militant networks and forced them to flee.
The premier reiterated his stance that the operation in Karachi was started with the consensus of all political parties. He further said that the operation in Sindh is not against any specific political party, but is targeting "criminals".
He said that due to the operation, many crimes such as target killing, extortion and kidnapping for ransom have been curbed in Karachi. A peaceful Karachi is crucial to the economic progress of the country, the prime minister said.
He added that the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) is being implemented successfully in all provinces of Pakistan.
The premier further said that the country has suffered the loss of a great number of lives and billions to its economy due to the fight against terror, hence the government will not stop until the fight reaches its logical conclusion.
He added that the government is striving to not only steer the country out of energy crisis but provide cheap electricity to the citizens and industries.
He said economic revival is a major challenge which cannot be overcome without overcoming the shortage of energy. He said that is why the Government is focusing on overcoming energy shortage and initiated different projects for this purpose.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar said the government is playing a role of facilitator and providing an enabling environment to the business community for economic progress of the country, Radio Pakistan reported.
He said today's Pakistan is better than it was in May 2013 before the present government's tenure and will further improve in the next three years.
Dar further said that all economic indicators are showing a positive trend. He said inflation is at the lowest level in thirteen years, GDP growth is at its highest level in six years and foreign exchange reserves have crossed $16 billion.
The premier later congratulated and distributed awards among the companies for their outstanding performance at the KSE.
The ceremony was also attended by Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman KSE and Governor State Bank Ashraf Mahmood Wathra.
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