A file photo of Pakistan's security forces. PHOTO: AFP
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Shah was presiding over the meeting attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Rangers director-general Bilal Akbar, acting chief secretary Rizwan Memon Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja and others at CM House on Thursday. After thorough discussions, the participants agreed that peace in Karachi needs to be sustained and for that the Sindh Police need to be strengthened. These discussions followed presentations by the Rangers and police chiefs on the performance of their forces and the challenges they face.
Crime rates fall
The presentations revealed that there has been a reduction in target killings, kidnappings and extortions. In fact, cases of terrorism and targeted killings have reduced by 80%. In 2013, there were 80 to 100 targeted killings every month but now hardly any incident takes place.
Similarly, cases of extortion have been reduced by 85% and kidnappings by 90%. In 2013, some 1,774 kidnapping cases were reported while, in the first five months of 2016, only 13 cases were registered. The 23% rise in property prices in Karachi was seen as an indicator of the city's improved law and order situation.
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Pending projects
Speaking to the members, CM Shah said that the establishment of new 10 anti-terrorism courts (ATC) was almost in the final stages. "We are going to establish six ATCs at Karachi Central Jail and the buildings will be ready by mid-June this year," he said. The courts will start functioning from July 1, he promised.
The Sindh High Court had assured the CM's legal team that they will appoint judges for the 10 new ATCs by that time, added Shah. The CM has also approved the appointment of 200 prosecutors purely on merit.
The apex committee also looked into the issue of upgrading GSM locators from 2G to 4G. The IG pointed out that the federal government was reluctant to allow this purchase but the CM, the governor and the corps commander assured him that the Sindh police will be equipped with latest gadgets.
IG Khawaja pointed out that the installation of new 10MP closed-circuit television cameras will cost Rs1.76 billion. He was told by the committee members to take up this issue with the finance secretary under the guidance of the chief secretary. Finance minister Murad Ali Shah assured that his department will release the required funds.
The members were informed that 8,855 madressas have been registered and the registration of another 1,178 was under way. Over 10,000 ghost madressas were unearthed during a physical verification process when a total of 7,724 madressas were geo-tagged. The members agreed to provide space to police, and officials from the narcotics, excise and National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) departments at the Rangers checkpoints located on the Sindh-Balochistan and Sindh-Punjab borders.
The compensation amount for law enforcers killed in the line of duty was increased to Rs6 million with two jobs for the victim's family members. The committee also approved the establishment of Benevolent and Welfare Board to provide necessary facilities to policemen and their families.
The CM has also approved the plans for a forensic lab for technical evidence while NADRA has been requested to provide the police access to the family tree of criminals. Investigations have become a technical job and criminals must be traced through database, said the IG.
The Rangers DG said he has developed National Action Plan (NAP) software to consolidate criminals' data from Larkana and Sukkur divisions. In that data, all madressas, NGOs, churches, imambargahs, hardened criminals, proclaimed offenders and others has been compiled after NADRA verification. The Rangers are developing similar software for Karachi and other divisions and Akbar offered the Sindh police access to the software.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2016.
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