Sindh cabinet meeting: IG gets go ahead for operation in katcha areas

Police to launch crack down on gangs involved in kidnappings in Sukkur, Larkana

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to launch a 'vigorous' operation against gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom in the katach areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions.

This decision was taken in a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah on Monday.

Briefing the cabinet members on the province's law and order situation, Sindh IG AD Khawaja said some gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom are active in the ktacha areas of Ghotki, Kashmore and Shikarpur. Hearing this, the CM floated the proposal of a cleanup operation against criminals and their facilitators which the cabinet approved and tasked the IG to launch the operation whenever he deems fit.

Briefing the cabinet on the Eid day terrorist attack at an imambargah in Khanpur, Shikarpur, the IG said terrorists enter Sindh from Balochistan to launch attacks in the border towns of Sindh. Shah replied that he has discussed the issue with the Balochistan chief minister who is ready to cooperate with the Sindh government to evolve a joint strategy to curb the movement of terrorists. "I have asked the [Sindh] IG to coordinate with his counterpart in Balochistan to develop a mechanism to secure our border," Shah informed the cabinet.

Madaris reforms bill

"Sindh is the land of Sufis and its people have always rejected fanaticism. But things have changed. The increasing clout of religio-political parties, the mushroom growth of seminaries in the absence of regulation and legislation, the Balochistan factor, poverty and illiteracy are major factors behind terrorist activities in rural areas of the province," he claimed.

The CM said he is keen to table the madaris reforms draft bill in the Sindh Assembly. The CM's adviser on law, Murtaza Wahab, told the cabinet that he had held discussions with the administration of seminaries and they have recommended some amendments in the draft bill which will be finalised soon.

Electricity woes 

Briefing the cabinet on outstanding electricity dues of the Hyderabad and Sukkur electricity supply companies, energy secretary Agha Wasif explained that the power companies had claimed bills of Rs61.31 billion and Rs67.09 billion for the period of July 2010 to July 2016.

"The bills are so inflated that the provincial government has refused to pay the amount," he said.

Shah informed that he has started a reconciliation process with the federal government and finally settled the amount at Rs78.21 billion. "This is how I saved over Rs50 billion of the people of Sindh," he said. All provincial ministers, advisers and special assistants to the CM, chief secretary Siddique Memon and advocate-general Zameer Ghumro, among other senior officials attended the meeting.

Assembly session tomorrow

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has summoned a session of the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday. Official sources said that pending legislation including the bills pertaining to registration of seminaries and accountability commissions are likely to be presented in the upcoming session.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2016.