Karachi: A senior Pakistan security official on Thursday recommended to a Senate committee the cancellation of all arms licences issued in the past five years to bring sustainable peace in Karachi.

Major-General Bilal Akbar, director-general of Sindh Rangers, in a briefing to the Senate’s Functional Committee for the Interior Affairs, told members that evidence had been found of foreign s involvement in recent terrorist acts in Karachi.

However, he further said, to eradicate the terror network, the extensive scrutiny of arms licences was needed.

He further suggested to the government that, if appropriate all arms licences that were issued in the past five years, would be cancelled.

Inspector-General of Sindh Police Gulam Haider Jamali told the committee that four suspects in the Safoora Goth carnage on May 13, including the mastermind, had been arrested.

Jamali further said the militant gang comprised 10 members who were involved in the attack, whereas there were a total 25 militants in the group operating in the city.

The four suspects, police sources said, belonged to Al Qaida and were well educated youths studying at universities in Karachi.

In the Safoora Goth massacre 45 Ismaili Shiites — including 17 women — were shot to death on a bus carrying 57 people on the outskirts of Karachi.

The brazen assault followed fatal militant attacks on several high-profile individuals — including police officers, professors and rights activists.

Jamali said the militants were targeting teachers, professionals and police officers to bring a bad name to the country.

The Rangers chief added that the mastermind of the Safoora Goth tragedy had been arrested earlier but was out on bail when he plotted the attack.

A joint investigation team (JIT) has been formed to interrogate the arrested militants who were brought by the police to an anti-terrorism court this afternoon to get their physical remand.

Senator Nasreen Jalil, who presided over the proceedings of the meeting later told the media that the country could not tolerate tragedies like Safoora Goth.

She further said, in order to forestall more such incidents, the committee was aptly willing to support the police and the Rangers.

The senator appreciated the law enforcement agencies for their rapid action and apprehending the militant gangs that were involved in the terrorism.

She, however, stressed the need for elements behind the operational terrorists to be traced.