Don’t ply your vehicle on transfer letter

CM directs Excise Department to clamp down on such motorists

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday ordered to launch a crackdown against vehicles being used on transfer letters. He gave these orders while presiding over a meeting on law and order. The directives came following the attack on the Chinese Consulate where such a car was used by terrorists. "The vehicle used by terrorists to attack the Chinese Consulate is registered in the name of a person who had sold his vehicle six years ago. The vehicle was being used only on transfer letter," said Special Branch Additional IG Dr Waliullah Dal, while briefing the meeting. In response, the CM directed the excise department to start a crackdown against vehicles plying in the city on transfer letters.



"The use of vehicle by second or progressive owners through transfer letters is illegal. This must be banned," CM said.

The meeting, which was convened to review law and order in light of the forthcoming Apex Committee meeting, was attended by CM's adviser Murtaza Wahab, Sindh IG Dr Kaleem Imam, CM's Principal Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shahalwani and others.

Sindh IG, briefing on crime statistics, said that 61 incidents of terrorism took place in 2013 while in 2018 the number had come down to two. Similarly, 509 target killing cases were reported in 2013 while in 2018 only five cases had been reported. The number of extortion cases recorded in 2013 was 575 and they had decreased to 131 in 2018.



Talking about kidnapping for ransom cases, the IG said that 173 cases were reported in 2013 and only 12 cases were registered in 2018. At this, the CM said, "Now I want to change the thana culture for which necessary measures must be taken to make the police public-friendly."

The CM was informed that 12,187 cases of mobile snatching were reported in 2013 and it had increased to 14,051 in 2018. Citing the reason for the increase, the IG said that in the past law and order was worse and people were reluctant to register mobile snatching cases. Now, he said, the law and order situation had improved and people had started filing their complaints. The CM said that whatever the reason, the crime must be controlled.

Sindh IG, while talking about two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles snatching, said that 5,118 two-wheelers were snatched in 2013, but in 2018 the number was 1,892. Similarly, 980 four-wheelers were snatched in 2013 and 165 in 2018.

The CM directed the IG to provide-bullet proof jackets to all the police personnel who were deployed at sensitive locations places such as consulates, CM House, Governor House and IG office. "They must wear bullet-proof jackets," he said.

The CM also directed Home Secretary Kazi Kabir to recommend him compensation for two civilians (from Balochistan) killed in the attack on Chinese Consulate. He also inquired about the treatment of the security guard. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2018.