Curbing menace: CM takes exception to police torture, extrajudicial killings

Sindh Human Rights Commission has resolved 4,326 such cases in the last four years

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his government will not allow any police official to indulge in "full fry" and "half fry". These terms refer to the  common practice among police officials in Sindh where “full fry” means to kill suspects on the spot and “half fry” means to injure them so that they become disabled.

Addressing the Sindh Assembly on Friday, the CM, who also holds the portfolio of home department, said, "No law permits the police to kill and injure suspects by deploying the infamous methods. The job of the police is to arrest suspects and present them before courts, instead of killing them this way."

In response to a question about the complaints against police regarding the violation of human rights, Shah said, "We have set up the Sindh Human Rights Commission under the supervision of Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi. In the last four years, we have received only 31 such complaints."  However, he added, the commission while taking notice of the reports appearing in newspapers and TV channels, has resolved 4,326 cases during the same period. "We have established police facilitation centres at divisional level where citizens can lodge their complaints. We will soon replicate these centres in all districts," he said.

To another question regarding the quality of education in the province, Shah said, "We have launched an operation against "ghost teachers" who receive salaries but don't teach students."  He said, "Education is the fundamental right of every citizen. Education is free, at least at the elementary stage. I have directed the education department to develop human personality and to strengthen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". He added that the Human Rights Department has been working on `rights of education' and has a close working relationship with the education department. Shah further added that his government has planned to include rights of children in the syllabus.

Loans and outstanding dues

The CM told the lawmakers that the provincial government had taken 23 cash development loans (CDL) amounting to Rs14.3 billion for a period of 25 years, including a five-year grace period. He added that the interest rate varies from 7.42% to 17.71% per annum.

Shah said that the last CDL was taken in the fiscal year 2003-2004 after which no loan has been taken from the federal government, adding that they did not take loans from commercial banks.

Resolution on fishing policy

Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the provincial government to approach the federal government to withdraw and abolish its "Deep Sea Fishing Licensing Policy 2018." The resolution moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Saleem Baloch said, "After the 18th Amendment, it's the provincial governments prerogative to make laws. The livelihood and future of around 1.6 million fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan is at stake." Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Monday. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2018.