Law and order: Sindh Police to induct 10,000 personnel, 1,000 retired soldiers this year

CM directs police officials not to stop PTI activists from protesting peacefully.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved the appointment of another batch of 1,000 retired army soldiers, in addition to the induction of 10,000 police personnel during the current financial year. He was presiding over a meeting at the CM House to review the law and order situation in the province.

The meeting was attended by Sindh minister for information and local government  Sharjeel Inam Memon, chief secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiyana, law secretary Mir Muhammad Shaikh, advocate-general Fatah Malik, special home secretary Muhammad Nawaz Shaikh, Sindh IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Karachi AIGP Ghulam Qadir Thebo, as well as other law enforcement officers.

The chief minister directed the Sindh Police IG to complete the procurement process of 5,000 bullet proof jackets and 100 bullet proof mobiles as soon as possible, as well as submit a complete PC-I proposal for the establishment of a DNA laboratory in Karachi.

The CM also directed the home department to submit the proposal to establish four to five anti-terrorism courts that would specifically try cases relating to the ongoing targeted operation.

CM Shah complained that there was a lack of coordination between the prosecution branch and the investigation wing of Sindh police, which resulted in unsatisfactory conviction rates. He sought closer liaison between prosecution and investigation branches and directed the relevant DIGs to ensure that the challans presented in courts were accompanied by proper evidence so that conviction rate could be increased.

He directed the officers not to create hindrance in the ongoing protests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, but to show tolerance and deal with political protesters in a way that neither party is disturbed.

Anti-terrorism courts

CM Shah directed the home department to consult the judiciary and submit the PC-I for separate four to five ATCs that would cater to the cases of the targeted operation only and arrange for the trial of high-profile cases outside Karachi. The chief minister said that in addition to combatting crime, the Sindh Government was working on institutional development and capacity-building of the Sindh Police on modern lines, which would enable it to meet the present and future challenges of law and order in Sindh. He said that they have recruited 10,000 police personnel and 2,000 retired Army soldiers during the last financial year and planned to recruit 10,000 personnel and 1,000 retired Army soldiers this financial year.

PTI protests

Speaking about the protests by PTI workers, the CM Shah said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) believed in democracy and peaceful protests were the legal right of each individual. He said that the police must be tolerant towards the PTI's peaceful protests and must not deprive them of their legal rights.

Briefing the meeting, IG Jamali said that tenders for the purchase bullet proof jackets, vehicles and other gadgets would be floated within a few days. He said that out of 1,084 cases challaned in ATCs, 76 people have been convicted. The IG revealed that crime in Karachi had declined by up to 60 to 70 per cent.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2014.