Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has nodded to appoint another batch of 1,000 retired army soldiers, in addition to induction of further 10,000 police personnel during the current financial year.
The Chief Minister also directed the IG of Sindh Police to complete purchasing of 5,000 bullet proof jackets and 100 bullet proof mobiles within shortest possible time and also to submit PC-I for establishment of a DNA Lab in Karachi, which according to him was very much essential for detection of evidence and criminals.
The Chief Minister directed the Home Department to submit the proposal for separating 4 to 5 anti-terrorism courts and specifying same only to try cases relating to the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and also to arrange trial of high profile cases outside Karachi. He directed officials not to stop the ongoing peaceful protest of PTI workers but to show their tolerance and deal with political protestors in such a way so that no either party should be disturbed.
This, he directed while presiding over a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the province at the Chief Minister House in Karachi.
Speaking on the Chief Minister appreciated efforts and achievements of LEAs and said that due to their efforts, there has became substantial reduction and even respite in some crime in Karachi and the whole province.
However, he said that still there was lack of co-ordination between the prosecution branch and the investigation wing of Sindh Police, resulting unsatisfactory conviction to criminals from courts. He directed for close liaison between prosecution and investigation branches and directed DIG concerned to ensure that challans presented in courts were in order with proper evidences so that conviction rate should be got increased.
He directed the Home Department to contact with judiciary and submit the PC-I for separating 4 to 5 ATC courts only for cases related to the targeted operation and arrange trial of high profile cases outside Karachi to ensure result-oriented and speedy trail of cases of targeted operation. The Sindh Chief Minister said that in addition to combat the crime, the Sindh Government was simultaneously working on institutional development and capacity building of the Sindh Police on permanent basis and modern lines, enabling them to meet challenges of law and order in Sindh.
He said" "We have recruited 10,000 police personal and 2,000 retired army soldiers during last financial year and we are going to recruit more 10,000 police personals and 1,000 retired army soldiers this financial year in addition to that spending huge amount to purchase APCs, bullet proof jackets, helmets and other police safety gadgets.
Talking about sit-in protest by PTI and PAT workers, the Sindh Chief Minister said: "We believe in democracy and in democracy peaceful protest is legal right of each individual and organisation."
He said since the PTI protest was peaceful as such, the officers must show their tolerance not to stop or deprived them from their legal right but constantly remain in contact with their local leaders and deal them in such a way so that no either party could be disturbed.
Briefing the meeting, Sindh IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali said he has put the purchasing process in fast track and tenders for purchase of bullet proof jackets, vehicles and other gadgets would be floated within weeks.
He said out of 1,084 cases challaned in ATC courts, conviction in 76 cases has been made. He said due to combined efforts of LEAs the crime rate has been substantially decreased and added that some crimes have been declined up to 60 to 70 percent and even there was respite in some heinous crimes like bank robbery and terrorism since last two months. He said Sindh was in respite so far the terrorism or bank robbery is concern. He said out of 15 cases of bank robbery 14 have been traced out.
He said that establishment of a DNA lab was essential to curb the crime.
Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government Sharjeel Inam Memon, Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiyana, Law Secretary Mir Mohammad Shaikh, Advocate General Fatah Malik, Special Secretary Home Mohammad Nawaz Shaikh, IGP of Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali, Commissioner of Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui, Additional IGP Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo, officers of law-enforcement agencies (LEAs), DIGs of Sindh Police and other concerned officials attended the meeting.