Murad directs police to ensure safety & security of masses

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting of Provincial Public Safety & Police Complaint Commission (PPS&PCC) has directed Sindh police to ensure proper safety & security of the people of the province.

The meeting was attended by all the members of the commission, including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Imdad Pitafi, Shamim Mumtaz, Shahnaz Begum, Mohammad Ali Aziz, Hasnain Ali Mirza, Karamat Ali, Barrister Haya Eman, Jhamat Mal, Qurban Ali Malano. The special invitees were Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, IG Police Dr Kaleem Imam, Secretary Home Usman Chachar, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi and Secretary of the commission Saifullah Abro.

The agenda of the meeting included, report on action taken against the manufacturers and smugglers of Gutka/mainpuri & Narcotics; review of reports submitted by IG Police regarding Shaheed Benazirabad University's issue of students; Mehrabpur incident of beating of a child and Pir-jo-Goth incident of suicide of a boy. Provincial Annual Policing Plan by IG Police, staffing of commission and increasing traffic issues.

Action against Gutka: Inspector General of Police briefing the commission said that on the instruction of the chief minister strict action has been taken against Gutka/Mainpuri manufacturers and smugglers.

The report said that the police have arrested 6,995 accused, recovered 3,526,470 kg of Gutka and Mainpuri and registered 5,714 FIRs against them. 206 factories or units of Gutka and Mainpuri have been sealed. The police challaned 5,561 cases. 1,650 accused are in jail, 3,470 on bail, 1,291 convicted and 552 were acquitted.

Narcotic: The police have arrested 11,057 accused, recovered 12.884 kg ice, 72.7 kg heroin, 698.922 kg Hasish, 7,619.656 kg charas, 186.29 kg opium, 180,844 local and 2,353 imported liquor, sealed 315 factories/units and registered 8,995 and challaned 8,507 cases. 3,906 accused are in jail, 4,451 on bail, 901 convicted and 1,228 acquitted.

Irani Diesel: The police have confiscated 1,141,111 liters of Iranian diesel, arrested 448 and action taken against 128. At this the chief minister said that the police was not responsible for taking action against smuggling of Iranian diesel but he has assigned them the task because the money generated from the smuggling was used for terrorist activities.

It was pointed out that 52 roads in the city have encroachments against which Karachi police launched an operation and registered 97 FIRs and arrested 168.

The chief minister directed chief secretary to make necessary arrangements for what he said `speaking roads' with enough road signs and markings for convenience of and safety of the public.

The chief secretary said that on the instructions of the chief minister he has been holding meetings with traffic police in which 147 priority intersections for lane markings, stop line/ Zebra Crossing and 178 locations for installation of traffic sign boards have been identified in the city.

It was also pointed out that 31 commercial buildings have been identified which have converted their parking spaces into shops and godowns. At this the chief secretary said that notices have been issued to the building owners to restore their parking spaces.

The police suggested that Lines Area Parking Plaza and Bara Dari Basement parking utilisation plan may be envisaged. Three grounds parking: Railway Ground near GPO, China Ground at Kashmir Road and vacant plot at Hassan Square Turning were suggested to be utilised for parking. The chief minister directed Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and IG Police to review the proposal and implement, if feasible.

The traffic issues have also been emerged due to 33 ongoing development projects, including the projects of BRTs. In the meeting it was also pointed out that there were 159 signals in the city, of them 33 were out of order. The chief minister then and there ordered their repair.

Flyover/Underpasses: The DIG traffic in his plan suggested construction of bypass road from West Wharf to Northern Bypass along the sea shore exactly on the back side of Machhar Colony.

Construction of Southern Bypass to divert the heavy traffic flow from KPT to Korangi industrial area via sea view Clifton Beach, construction of Inter-change bridge at ICI junction, construction of head bridge at PIDC bridge to TPX container yard along the M T Khan Road. The chief minister said that these projects have already been included in Karachi package and the local government minister has started his consultative meeting with the concerned agencies whose roads/area would be used for construction of the bridges.

Students issue: The students of SMBB University blocked the road connecting Nawabshah to Sakrand city to protest against the refusal of the university administration to take the students to all Pakistan Tour. The students despite repeated warnings refused to open the road, as a result traffic on both sides of road jammed. The police open tear gas in which 10 students received minor injuries. The university administration was brought there and the matter was settled, the IG police reported.

In Mehrabpur incident FIR has been registered against and Maqsood Ahmed Channa has been arrested. The case has been challaned. The chief minister directed chief secretary Mumtaz Shah to provide necessary staff to the secretary of the commission for official work.

In the next meeting the IG police will present annual police plan. The rules of the commission have been framed and sent to law department for vetting. The resolution passed against the IG police for not attending the commission meetings was withdrawn on the request of the IG police.