Combatting street crime: IG asks for 25% increase in police budget

Standing committee on home discusses law and order, police issues

KARACHI: The provincial police chief has asked lawmakers for a 25% increase in the department's budget so law enforcers can combat street crime properly, especially in Karachi.

Responding to concerns by lawmakers during a meeting of the standing committee on home at the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday, Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja said lack of resources is hampering police efforts in combating street crime effectively. He demanded an increase of 25% in the police budget and asked for basic resources at police stations' level. "Around 80% police stations lack basic facilities. We should consider these issues along with making laws to bring reforms in the system," he suggested.

The meeting, presided over by MPA Owais Shah, was convened to review the budgets of the police and home department and their performance, but other issues, especially law and order, dominated the meeting.

Discussing the budget, the IG informed lawmakers that around Rs61.8 billion were allocated for the police in the 2015-16 budget of which 84% goes to salary, 4% each for petrol, new vehicles, procurement of weapons and maintenance of buildings.

"We have not gotten a proper budget for surveillance cameras. I demand the government release adequate funds in time so as to get results," he said.

'Corrupt' check posts

He also admitted that policemen deployed at the province's border posts accept bribes from incoming travellers and in return allow them to pass without being checked for security purposes.

The IG admitted that policemen at Hub Chowki on the Sindh-Balochistan border are involved in corruption. "I will ask Karachi Additional IG to deploy honest officers at the post and monitor the issue," said Khawaja.

Shah raised the issue of poor security measures at exit and entry points of Sindh and suggested to install scanners and CCTV cameras at the border check posts. "Infiltration of suspects from outside Sindh has contributed to the worsening law and order situation in Karachi. But our police is busy minting money from people entering Sindh," Shah claimed.

Endorsing Shah, Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Mohammad Yousaf Shahwani said, "There are also reports that suspects frequently smuggle weapons from Afghanistan into Sindh via Hub Chowki."

Digitisation of licences

Talking about computerisation of arms licences, Shah said, "For the last three years the government allocates funds for it, but the process has yet to be completed. Can you please let us know when you will finish it," he asked the home department officials.

Home special secretary Riaz Soomro, briefing the participants, said with the help of NADRA they have so far computerised 50,000 licences out of 0.5 million applications.

Shortage of prosecutors

When asked to explain the slow progress in disposal of cases in anti-terrorism courts, Soomro blamed the 'severe shortage of prosecutors' behind pending cases. "After the next budget, we will appoint around 200 prosecutors to resolve this issue," he vowed.

Talking about the upcoming budget, Soomro said a forensic lab will be set up in Jamoshoro and in this connection government has also acquired 30 acres of land. "We will also establish two new prisons in Mirpurkhas and Kashmore," he said.

Police stations in schools

The lawmakers also criticised the IG over the presence of police stations in government schools in Sindh, and asked Khawaja to take action without further delay.

The IG assured them that action would be taken and the police stations relocated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.