'Grand joint operation' planned in gang-infested areas of Sindh, Punjab.

SUKKUR -- Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon presided over a high-level meeting in the office of the Sukkur DIG on Monday night and took several major decisions regarding establishment of government's writ in the riverine and other upper areas of the province.

Senior police officials from Sukkur and Larkana ranges as well as Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur attended the meeting, held in the backdrop of a fierce battle in the wee hours of Sunday that had left a DSP, two SHOs and two personnel dead and several other policemen wounded.

The meeting participants included Bahawalpur regional police officer Muneer Ahmed Zia, Sukkur DIG Javed Sonharo Jiskani, Larkana DIG Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh, Ghotki SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio, Sukkur SSP Singhar Malik and Rahim Yar Khan SSP Akhtar Farooq.

Police chiefs of Ghotki, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Rahim Yar Khan and other districts briefed the meeting about the law and order situation created by heavily armed gangs of outlaws in the region bordering Punjab.

Police, commandos to be provided helicopters and sophisticated weapons: IG Ghulam Nabi Memon

The meeting decided that the Sindh and Punjab police would launch a 'grand joint operation' in the gang-infested riverine area in the Ghotki and Rahim Yar Khan districts' border areas.

The police officers presented their proposals for a joint strategy to ensure success of the operation to establish writ of government in these and Shikarpur districts.

It was decided that all roads and escape routes would be effectively sealed before launching the grand operation. The operation would cover areas between Kandhkot-Kashmore district and the bordering areas of Punjab and Balochistan.

The Sindh-Punjab police force supported by commandos would soon launch the operation simultaneously in the riverine areas of both provinces, it was announced in a communique issued after the meeting.

'The grand operation would continue till achievement of target and restoration of complete peace in these areas,' it added.

The IGP informed the meeting that Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had already announced allocation of Rs3.5 billion for the procurement of anti-aircraft guns and other sophisticated weapons to combat the gangs of outlaws. The CM had also pledged provision of helicopters, armoured personnel carriers and all other required machinery, equipment and technological support for the purpose, he...