The Sindh Apex Committee has decided to launch operation against drug mafia and those involved in sectarian killing under the garb of religion. Presiding over the committee's meeting on Tuesday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the success of Apex Committee in restoring peace in the city was strategic partnership of Pakistan Army, Ranger and police and top of it was the will of his government.
"This strategic partnership worked well because of being on the same page in implementing National Action Plan but this operation would continue till the last terrorist exists."
This special Apex Committee meeting convened to discuss the performance of the operation because two its senior members, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar has been posted as DG ISI and DG Ranger Major General Bilal Akbar has been promoted as Lieutenant General, would relinquish their present positions to join their new assignments. The others attended the meeting included Senior Minister Nisar Khuhro, Advisors to Chief Minister Mola Bux Chandio, Murtaza Wahab, IG Sindh AD Khawaja, Adl IG CTD Sanaullah Abbasi, Commissioner Karachi Aijaz Ali Khan, provincial heads of intelligence agencies and other concerned officers.
The chief minister said that since the inception of the Apex Committee, two important members, the Corps Commander Karachi and the DG Rangers played an important role to work together with civil government and defined civil military working relationship in a new dynamic way. "This working relationship translated into peace in the city," he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said "when we had started this journey [Apex Committee] the law & order situation was very bad, there was unrest among the people of this city and terrorists, mafias and other criminals had established their sway in different areas," he said and added "now things have improved considerably, the government has won public confidence in our law enforcement agencies, business activities have started flourishing and most important events/days like Moharram, Chehlum, Chup Tazia, Ideas 2016, CPEC trade convoy, Rabi-ul-Awal passed peacefully. "This credit goes to our political leadership, this forum in which decisions were taken with collective wisdom and implemented or being implemented in true letter and spirit," he said.
The chief minister assured the Corps Commander Karachi and DG Rangers that the work they have left incomplete would be completed through this forum in which their successors would be with him. "But I would need your support from the positions where you have been posted," he said.
Briefing the meeting the Additional IG CTD Sanaullah Abbasi quoting CRSS quarterly security report said that the crime rate has dropped down in Sindh considerably. He added that Pakistan experienced a 19.4 percent rise in the number of fatalities from violence. "Fata observed a 90.5 rise in fatalities, Punjab 52 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plus 19.9 percent, Balochistan plus 18 percent and Sindh minus 19.5 percent.
Home Secretary Shakeel Mangrio giving presentation on implementation status of 17th Apex Committee meeting said that the names of 4th schedulers being posted on Home dept website and share with CM secretariat. The IG would send his recommendation to the Ministry of Interior and national security agencies.
The promulgation of Sindh Deeni Madaris Bill has been presented before the cabinet meeting and it has been referred to the sub committee. The Sindh government has requested the federal government to delegate the powers under foreigners Ordinance 1951 to Sindh police.
Disaster management Authority is being strengthened. The exercise to identify the gaps to manage the disasters has been completed. The government has taken strict and focused measures to provide security to CPEC projects. The government has taken tangible steps for choking the financing of terrorist activities as well as flow of funds through hundi and hawala for which FIA was playing an important role.
The Corps Commander Karachi has been assisting Sindh police to establish Forensic Explosive lab. An expert from Pakistan Army was being hired. The Pakistan Rangers has carried out a combing operation against some networks involved in recruiting people for Syria and Iraq. The Sindh government was working to amend the criminal law for the admissibility of modern technology tools in recording of evidence. The draft amendments have been sent for the consideration of the cabinet.
The six ATC courts functioning at Clifton would be shifted to newly constructed courts inside the jail for which Sindh government would issue a notification. The Home Secretary talking about Karachi operation said that since the last Apex Committee meeting (during last five week) no terrorism linked incident has taken place, no kidnapping case has been reported. He added that 26 extortion cases have been reported, while during the corresponding period of last year 35 cases were reported. He said 18 target killing incident has been reported while they were 15 last year. On this, the chief minister directed the IG police to ensure strict routines of police patrolling and intelligence gathering.
The intelligence organisations heads said that the fire incidents, including in a hotel were on the rise and there may be some mischief for which they were working. The chief minister directed IG police to investigate into the other angles. "I am also doubtful that day in and day out fire breaks out in factories- what is this," he questioned and directed him to investigate.
The chief minister on the recommendation of the intelligence organisations directed IG police to start operation against dacoits in the katcha areas of the Ghotki and adjoining districts. DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar giving performance of his organisation said that the Rangers have arrested most important al Qaida, TTP and leaders of other proscribed organisations. He said he had arrested 1474 terrorists, 9053 target killers some of them during their investigation had confessed to have killed two to three persons and some had confessed to have killed 300 individually. He added that Rangers arrested 438 extortionists and 115 kidnappers.