Apex committee meet: Sindh decides to raise 100-strong anti-riot force

IT wing to be set up in police dept to overcome admin, monitoring hurdles

KARACHI: A provincial apex committee tasked to oversee implementation of the National Action Plan against terrorism in Sindh has decided to set up an ‘anti-riot force’ and an information technology wing in the police department to overcome administrative and monitoring hurdles.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the meeting at his office where attendees included Governor Ishratul Ibad, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Rangers Director-General Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, IG Sindh AD Khowaja, Additional IGs Mushtaq Maher and Sanaullah Abbasi, Provincial Minister Nisar Khuhro, the chief minister’s adviser Maula Bux Chandio, Advocate General Zamir Ghumro, Prosecutor General Shahdat Awan and other officials.



The provincial police chief told participants that a highly-trained 2,500-strong workforce would be required to operate different tiers of the automated system such as the Criminal Record Management System (CRMS), police record, human resource and complaint management system.

The system would be based on an automated human resource management and attendance system introduced in the Punjab police. The meeting was informed that Punjab has agreed to share expertise/software with Sindh free of cost.

Moreover, the anti-riot force would be 100-strong. The move came a week after dozens of MQM supporters ransacked the office of a media house near Zainab Market following a provocative speech by the party’s London-based founder, Altaf Hussain.

The meeting also decided to introduce state-of-the-art registration number plates for vehicles that would have special security features, including a tracking system. Similar number plates would also be issued to motorcycles.



The meeting decided that welfare/social organisations interested in collecting hides of sacrificial animals on Eidul Azha would have to seek an NOC from the deputy commissioners concerned. Moreover, the government would reserve the right to audit their accounts.

The chief minister approved the proposal to recruit detectives in BPS 17 as assistant directors/deputy directors to investigate high-profile cases, such as murder, kidnapping for ransom, etc.



Shah also approved the establishment of facilitation centres to bridge the communication gap between the public and police. The chief minister said he has increased the budget of investigation from Rs264 million in FY2015-16 to Rs364 million in FY2016-17. The IG said Rs20,000 had been given to conduct investigation into a murder or kidnapping for ransom case, and Rs11,000 for a bank robbery.

Now the government has increased the cost of investigation into a murder, gang rape, kidnapping for ransom or bank robbery case to Rs100,000. While the budget to investigate a bomb explosion, suicide attack, target killing and anti-state activities has been scaled up to Rs500,000. The meeting also decide to establish a forensic laboratory in Karachi.

About the August 22 incident, the apex committee was briefed that the Artillery Maidan police have registered two FIRs against 44 people, including three women, who are in police custody.

The meeting was informed that some women dismantling/torching public property have been identified through CCTV footage. It was disclosed that some of the women wanted in cases have also been identified and their families have given undertakings that they would present them when required. “These women have confessed to their crime,” the IG told the meeting.



The meeting was informed that the recruitment of 2,000 former army personnel on a two-year contract for the security of Chinese engineers was in progress. So far, 806 personnel have been inducted; of them, 168 have been deployed and the remaining 638 would join training next week.

The issues of illegal immigrants, particularly of Afghan refugees, were also discussed. It was decided that the federal government would be approached to ensure their repatriation.

It was also disclosed that the names of 602 persons have been put on Schedule IV which means they pose a threat to peace. The meeting was also briefed on the progress of cases recommended for military trials, hate speeches, violation of loud speakers, etc.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2016.