Diplomatic ties: Wassan meets US delegation, vows to restore peace

The minister blamed over-packed jails for security concerns in the facilities.

KARACHI: A delegation of the US consulate general led by political officers, Keisha Toms and Conor J Mcnamera, visited the Sindh minister for Prisons, Enquiries and Anti-corruption and Mines and Minerals, Manzoor Hussain Wassan, at his residence on Tuesday.

The officials exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, particularly the law and order situation prevalent in Karachi and other parts of the province.



The US delegation pledged full co-operation of their government in providing security to the prisons of Sindh and also promised support for the improvement of the overall law and order situation.

Speaking to media personnel, Wassan said that the provincial government was taking every step to restore peace in Karachi as it was the commercial hub of the province. He revealed that the jails in the province, which had a capacity of 8,000, were currently housing more than 14,000 inmates which naturally lead to security issues.  He confirmed that a 16-foot-high wall was being built in Karachi Central Jail and that the prison police personnel will be sent abroad for training programmes so that they become more efficient in the face of adverse circumstances.

Wassan said that peace could only be restored in Karachi through the sincere efforts of all stake holders. He predicted that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement would join Sindh government very soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2013.