KARACHI: Sindh province’s Pakistan Rangers on Thursday announced a Rs5 million award for information leading to the arrest of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi al-Alami (LJA) chief Syed Safdar, said a spokesperson for the paramilitary force.
The paramilitary force urged the citizens to cooperate with them in the search for Safdar. The chief of LJA is “wanted in several acts of terrorism”, added the spokesperson.
“If anyone has information about him, he should inform the Rangers through whatsapp, phone number, email or helpline,” said the spokesperson.
Rangers also confirmed protection saying the name of the individual who provides information leading to Safdar’s arrest would be kept secret. Safdar operates under various aliases, such as, Khurasani and Mowavia.
Zarb-e-Azab operation:
An ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.
A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the “vast suburbs of Karachi”, to prevent what the military spokesperson said were “sneaking terrorist attacks”
Although terror-related incidents have decreased significantly in the three years since the commencement of the Karachi operation, sleeper cells of terror outfits still exist in the metropolis and law enforcers have been making concerted efforts to eliminate the same.