Pakistan to beef up its security, to recruit 20,000 policemen

Pakistan will recruit 20,000 policemen, including former armymen, to deal with fragile security situation in Sindh province, a top minister said today, days after renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri was killed by Taliban militants in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference here, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan talked at length about the situation in Karachi after killing of Sabri and kidnapping of Ovais Sajjad Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice last week.

“The 20,000 police will be recruited and it will also include 2,000 former army jawans. This police force will be trained by army,” Khan said.

He said law and order had improved since counter-terrorism operation was launched in Karachi in September 2013 but still a lot of work was needed to be done.

Noting that there was no need for the nation to panic as terrorists are on the run, Khan claimed incidents of extortion, terrorism, target killing, and kidnapping for ransom in Karachi have decreased. Popular Qawwali exponent Sabri was killed last Wednesday by Taliban militants in the Liaquatabad area of the city.