ISLAMABAD: At least 700 people were killed in incidents of violence in Sind in the last 24 days even as more than 20,000 crossed over to adjacent districts of Rahimyarkhan and Rajanpur in Punjab with harrowing tales of inhuman treatment and a life of fear reports earlier this month said.

These people said an exodus could be ruled out if the law and order situation continued to deteriorate in Sind which is Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s home province.

Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif, who was informed of the large numbers coming from Sind, ordered immediate relief measures including setting up of relief center.

‘A Punjab government release said check posts had been set up in areas bordering Sind for a close watch on inters provincial movement of saboteurs and terrorists. Report said despite intensified army patrolling, the 10 dead included a captain and two jawans. Some others were injured in sniper firing and incidents of violence in Sind.

Sind government spokesman said 40 people were arrested in Karachi Sunday and some arms and ammunition were recovered.

Considerable significance is being attached to the visit of president Ghulam Ishaq Khan to joint staff headquarters.

The Pakistan govt has repeatedly blamed India for fomenting trouble in Sind.

The law and order situation was among subjects taken up at the meeting which was attended by the chairman of the joint chiefs. of staff committee, admiral Iftikhar Sirohey and the three services chiefs.

Gen Begis to visit Karachi again to assess the situation and get a briefing from the corps commander Lt Gen Asif Nawaz,

Though the army has ostensibly been called to assist civil administration, observers here noted that it had assumed almost complete charge of the province.

Chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain protect life, honour and property of Mohajirs in the province.

The MQM chief said the Sind government was using state machinery to “crush the Mohajirs.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has ordered a crackdown on “terrorists” in Sind. Addressing a meeting of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members of the national and provincial assemblies and party leader, she alleged that foreign intelligence agencies were involved in terrorism in Karachi and Hyderabad,

Benazir Bhutto, who has been facing mounting opposition criticism for her failure in containing increasing lawlessness in Sind, has approved contingency plans for a major crackdown on miscreants in the province.

The operation, to be conducted jointly by the army, rangers and the police, was finalized on Sunday after Bhutto air dashed to Karachi to review the law and order situation, reports here said.

The army has been patrolling for the last two weeks Karachi, Hyderabad and other areas in Sind affected by sectarian clashes and sniper firings that has left over 700 dead and many more injured.

While officials said the army will function, “in aid of civil administration’ opposition leaders maintained that decks were being cleared for imposition of martial law in the province. Such a move has however been categorically ruled out by Bhutto.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 22, 1990