Taking precautions: CM orders eight ATC’s to be shifted to central jail

Terror­ists may try to escape while being transp­orted from jail to ATC, says Murad Ali Shah

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday approved orders for shifting anti-terrorism courts from Karachi's Clifton area to central jail premises.

Owing to recent security threats, Shah, while chairing a meeting at CM House approved shifting of eight ATCs. "We can't transport notorious criminals and terrorists from central jail to ACTs in Clifton area, on daily basis," Shah said, adding that criminals may take advantage of the situation, and try to escape. "Hence, the courts must be shifted within the premises of the jail," he said while directing officials.

The chief secretary, advocate general and home secretary were among those present in the meeting.

Earlier, Sindh CM received a briefing from the Sindh IG and Hyderabad commissioner on the progress made to improve the security situation in the province. The Counter-Terrorism Department AIG, Sindh chief secretary and officials of intelligence agencies also attended the meeting.

Security has been tightened across the country with a crackdown also taking place to nab culprits behind recent terror incidents. Last week, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of security officials wherein he stated that the facilitator of attack in Lahore that claimed 13 lives had been caught and the bomber has been identified.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2017.