A file photo of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: PPI
"It is okay if you have issued NOCs to these organisations, but it is essential to know how they utilised the funds generated from selling the hides," said the CM while presiding over a preparatory huddle for the upcoming Sindh apex committee meeting at CM House on Monday.
Karachi Commissioner Aijaz Khan informed that he had issued 687 NOCs to welfare organisations for collection of hides. The CM directed him to issue instructions to the welfare organisations to get an audit conducted of the amount generated and then present a report.
"I need the complete reports as government will not let anyone misuse these funds," Shah remarked.
More ATCs
Discussing the under construction anti-terrorism courts (ATC), chief secretary Siddique Memon said that six buildings were ready at Central Jail where these courts can be housed.
Sindh IG AD Khawaja said that he has deputed a force of 600 policemen, known as jail police, to escort the under-trial prisoners (UTPs) from jail to the ATCs in Clifton for proceedings.
On this, the CM said it is risky to regularly send UTPs from jail to ATCs in Clifton for hearing. When the UTPs of terrorism cases reach there (ATCs) they stay there for few hours which is again dangerous, he remarked.
"I would suggest that you shift six ATCs from Clifton to the newly constructed courts at Central Jail for security reasons. At this stage when we are at war with terrorists and enemies of the country we cannot take risks," he said, adding that within the next three months 14 other court buildings will be ready for housing new ATCs.
He also directed his principal secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch to coordinate with the contracting firm and ensure that the 14 ATCs are ready in three months.
During the meeting, the CM also approved Rs8 million for the establishment of an explosives lab in Central Police Office (CPO) to determine the nature of explosives.
"In the absence of such a lab we have to rely on the reports of bomb disposal squad. We should have proper scientific lab to support cases in ATCs," said a police official during the meeting.
The CM also issued directives to find a suitable piece of land in the city to build a forensics lab. This lab was supposed to be built in Jamshoro but officials had objected, stating it is too far away from Karachi.
Progress on projects
Briefing the CM on the progress of another apex committee decision regarding establishment of anti-riot units, the IG said he has raised two such units, one in District South of Karachi and another in Hyderabad with a strength of 300 officers.
Home secretary Shakil Mangnejo said that he was working on the establishment of anti-riot units in all divisional headquarters of the province. On this the CM directed the IG and home secretary to establish one more unit in Karachi.
The IG also informed that around 1,100 police personnel have been readied to provide security to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects in Sindh and a further 900 will be recruited soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st , 2016.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ