Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Home Department, Waseem Akhtar has proposed that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) representatives be made members of police reform process in Sindh. Addressing members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Thursday.
The adviser noted that bureaucrats as well as policymakers fear that if such and such clause of reform is implemented, NAB may interfere. He said that induction of NAB representative in police reform process would provide them an opportunity to point out any objection they have on reform process so that their concern should be removed.
He said that the government is preparing police reform agenda which include better equipping, increase in salary, sale of certain lands for generating revenue for police hospital, providing vehicles and improving living condition of police officials and there families. Beside other measures government also making efforts to reduce influence of politician, feudal lords and bureaucrats on police. In the past 60 years, politicians, feudal lords and bureaucrats have used police for their own benefits and gains.
Regarding police strength in Karachi, the adviser said that the government has approved a proposal to increase police manpower by 5,000 in Karachi and around 2500 for interior of Sindh. Waseem Akhtar said that there are around 30,000 police officials working in the city. Out of them only 2900 are on crime control duty and rest are working on security duties of VIPs, retired and serving judges, political leaders, MNAs, MPAs, foreign diplomats, Ulmas etc, and protection of government buildings.
This statistic indicate that on 500 people there is only one police official, he added. About measures of improving law and order in the city, he said that the home department has obtain permission for installing surveillance cameras on main markers and on sensitive areas where crime rates are higher.
He said that the government has decided to provide rubber bullets and snorkels to be used in future for controlling violent demonstrations. In recent past live bullets were used to control violent demonstration in which people lost their lives.
The adviser appreciated the performance of intelligence official posted in different parts of the city in plain cloth, which has helped in controlling street crimes.
He claimed that mobile phone snatching reduced considerably and 60 percent recovery of car snatching. However, there is little success in controlling motorcycle snatching, he admitted. Government also purchasing 50 Corolla cars for patrolling on main roads besides providing motorcycles for the purpose. The adviser recalled that the police had detected some mobile phone calls planning for suicidal bomb explosion during last Muharram precession.
Tight security measures failed their plans, he added. Former president FPCCI, SM Munir said that more intelligence officials be posted in different parts of the city to control street crime. Chairman, Law and Order Sub-committee Shaikh Manzar Alam urged the adviser to take appropriate measures to improve traffic condition. Welcoming the guests, Chairman KATI, Masoom Naqi expressed concern over increasing street crime, car, mobile, cash and motorcycles snatching incidents in last few weeks.
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