Apex committee resolves to start delayed Safe City Project

Members told that project came to a halt due to NAB intervention

KARACHI: In its 22^nd meeting, the Sindh Apex Committee observed that the Safe City Project was delayed due to the intervention of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

It was decided in the meeting to take NAB into confidence and restart the project to ensure the security of Karachi's residents through an anti-terrorism monitoring network, traffic management system, integrated emergency response and modern communication system.

The meeting was held Thursday evening at Chief Minister House with CM Murad Ali Shah in chair. Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, V Corps Commander Lt Gen Shahid Baig Mirza, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Sindh Rangers Director-General Major General Mohammad Saeed,  Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Advocate-General Zameer Ghumro, Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez, Inspector-General of Police Allah Dino Khowaja, Federal Investigation Agency Director Muneer Shaikh, provincial heads of intelligence agencies and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

The meeting's agenda included the madaris law draft, Karachi Safe City Project, cybercrime, detention powers under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), trial of street crime cases, land grabbing, banks' security, installation of trackers in motorcycles, security audit of dargahs, standard registration number plates and other issues.



The participants expressed reservations on the unnecessary delay in the Safe City Project. The meeting was informed that the project was started with the hiring of a consultant but NAB raised objections to the process, after which the project was delayed.

The apex committee agreed that the project was crucial for Karachi's security. The CM directed the chief secretary to hold a meeting with NAB and take its officials into confidence so that the project could be started.

The issue of the trial of street crime cases in anti-terrorism courts (ATC) was also taken up in the meeting. It was pointed out that judicial sources were of the view that street crime cases could not be heard at ATCs. The committee members argued that when a gun is used in a street crime, the act comes under the domain of terrorism and could be heard at the ATCs.

The CM informed the committee that legal reforms would be introduced in consultation with the Sindh Judicial Academy to allow the trial of street crime at ATCs. "I want street criminals to be dealt with severely. We have restored peace in the city after paying a heavy price and now street criminals will not be allowed to keep the citizens harassed, insecure and afraid," the CM said. He directed the law minister to expedite the process of consultation and take the matter to the Cabinet.

On the issue of land grabbing, law enforcement agencies' representatives informed the meeting that operation against land grabbers was in progress and satisfactory results had so far been achieved.

The home secretary told the meeting that he had held a number of meetings with bank officers on the security of banks. There is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the security of banks but most private banks do not follow it properly, he said, adding that the government was implementing its security plan for banks whereas the banks had been directed to follow the SOP.



The committee also discussed the issue of acquittals of various alleged terrorists and decided that in such cases appeals would be filed well in time.

Briefing the meeting on installation of trackers in motorcycles, Siyal said he held a number of meetings with motorcycle manufacturers and assemblers. "A proper mechanism has been evolved to install factory-fitted tracker in all the motorcycles," he said, adding that the final trial in this regard would be held on March 12.

The meeting also decided to launch a targeted operation against criminals and dacoits in the katcha area.

It was pointed out that there were still 62 buildings and roads in Karachi named after Altaf Hussain and his family members. The meeting resolved that those who were against the state did not deserve any kind of honour or memorial. The chief secretary was directed by the committee to rename all such buildings and roads.