Pakistan security forces killed over 860 militants in Karachi operations

ISLAMABAD: Over 860 militants and criminals have been killed by Pakistani security forces in over two years as part of an ongoing operation to improve the law and order situation in the country's financial hub.

The security forces launched a massive operation on September 5, 2013 on the orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had taken over power in June and announced to create peace in the city.

Rangers announced that it has embarked on the second phase of operation after dismantling the network of terrorists in the financial hub of the country.

Rangers said in an overnight statement that during two-years, it arrested 10,353 suspects in 5,795 raids.

"The detainees include 826 terrorists, 334 target killers and 296 extortionists," it said.

The paramilitary force also said that "364 terrorists" of banned outfits and groups like al-Qaeda, different factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were also killed in gunfights.

A police official said that over 500 terrorists and criminals were killed and more than 70,000 arrested in two years.

Both police and Rangers suffered heavy losses in the running gun battles with outlaws, as 250 policemen and 27 Rangers soldiers were killed in fights and terrorists attack by the militants and criminals.

Launching the next phase of operation, Rangers said that it will go after terrorists, criminals and their facilitators.

Karachi has been in the grip of violence over several years.

The complex cobweb of interests involve criminals, militants, target killers, extremists, land grabbers and extortionists, some of them patronised by political parties and religious groups.