Inspector General Sindh Police (IG) Mushtaq Shah said Friday that the operation in Lyari has been stopped for 48 hours. Shah added that the operation was being stopped due to the offer to surrender made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah to criminals. "Criminals have 48 hours to lay down their arms,” Shah said. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had also announced that the operation was being temporarily stopped however the police would remain in Lyari to retaliate against any attacks. The operation against criminal elements entered its eight day as gun battles and rocket attacks continued. During the operation residents of Lyari had fled their homes while business activity has been severely affected.