Ovais Shah’s kidnappers holed up in Karachi: Sindh IG

Sindh cabinet informed LEAs close to nabbing Sabri’s killers

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Monday said the kidnapping of Barrister Ovais Ali Shah and the killing of prominent Qawwal Amjad Sabri have shaken the confidence of the people in the government which the latter had gained after hectic efforts.

“Now, we have to recover the barrister and arrest the killers of Amjad Sabri to regain that confidence and foil terrorists’ nefarious designs,” the chief minister said while presiding over a special cabinet meeting on the law and order situation here at the CM House. The meeting was attended by all members of the cabinet.



Shah said the government had succeeded in restoring peace in the city by crushing terrorists, extortionists, kidnappers and target killers. That had been achieved through the hard work and dedication of law-enforcement agencies (LEA), he added.

Inspector General of Police AD Khwaja briefed the cabinet about the circumstances that led to the kidnapping of Barrister Ovais Ali Shah. He said the police have conducted a number of raids and have arrested some suspects.

The kidnappers were trying to misguide LEAs by switching on and off the cell phone of Barrister Ovais Shah.

“We still believe that he [Ovais Shah] has been kept in Karachi and with the help of all agencies and using the technology available to us we would recover him safe and sound shortly,” the IG assured.

Talking about the killing of Amjad Sabri, the IG said LEAs were very close to his killers. “Police and other agencies are working closely and would give results very soon,” he said.

The chief minister ordered the authorities concerned to upgrade CCTVs all over the city and also install more where necessary. He directed the IG to start recruitment of police. The chief minister also directed the senior minister for finance to arrange funds so that courts and residences of the judges being constructed in the Central Jail could be done on war footings.

The chief minister also directed the IG to start procuring necessary gadgets and equipment. “I would provide you funds,” he said.



Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday urged the Sindh government to make use of the latest technology to make the provincial capital safe.

The PPP chairman was briefed about the law and order situation at a meeting held at Bilawal House. Those who attended the meeting include Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, Political Secretary to the Chairman Jameel Soomro, chief secretary, home Secretary and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh.

Bilawal Zardari stressed the need of utilising latest technological gadgets and communication tools to improve policing and make the city safe for both its residents and visitors. “Common people should be enabled to approach police and other law-enforcement agencies without any hindrances. An open-door policy up to the SP and DIG level may be adopted.”

He further said the Sindh home minister and the Sindh IG should hold media briefings on law and order on fortnightly basis to apprise the general public about the steps and efforts being taken by the provincial government to provide peaceful environment to citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.