Under pressure from SC, Sindh cabinet approves revival of Police Order 2002

Since police dept was made autonomous, serious issues have emerged and Sindh govt has been criticised for them: CM

KARACHI: After a long dispute over powers with former IGP AD Khawaja, the Sindh Cabinet finally approved the revival of Police Order 2002 as is applicable in the Punjab, albeit with a few amendments. After approving the bill, the cabinet referred it to a standing committee to consider certain amendments and make it a progressive law in connection with modern requirements of policing.

This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the Chief Minister's House. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, Adviser to Sindh CM on Law, Anti-Corruption Establishment and Information Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Kaleem Imam and all related secretaries.

The CM said that the maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government. "With our political will we have restored law and order in the province, particularly in the city of Karachi, but ever since the police started operating on its own, serious issues have emerged," he said, adding that the provincial government faced criticism for these issues.

He said that the police have been made autonomous and now it has to become community friendly. "People must feel a sense of security and protection in the presence of the police, however, some incidents have caused an opposite reaction". He added that under the 2002 Order, the IGP would become the principal accounting officer and would himself deal with his department's financial issues.

The chief secretary said that the entire government officers' system revolved around Appointment, Promotion and Transfer (APT) rules and the same rules were applicable on the police as well.

The Sindh Cabinet, in order to implement the Supreme Court decisions, has approved the revival of Police Order 2002 . However, the law has been referred to a standing committee of the Sindh Assembly to consider certain amendments and consult with all the stakeholders to make it a progressive law to ensure establishment of modern, responsible and responsive policing.

Price control

Discussing the mechanism for controlling the prices of essential commodities during Ramazan, the cabinet decided to empower divisional, district and sub-divisional administration to keep a check on the prices. The CM directed the chief secretary to hold a meeting with all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners through video link and direct them to check the prices, stocks and records of essential commodities.

Murad also directed local government minister to work out a plan in consultation with the chief secretary to accommodate the displaced shopkeepers of Saddar into the parking plaza which could also be developed into a market.

Safe cities authority

The CM said that the objective of establishing the Sindh Safe Cities Authority Act, 2019 was to ensure the safety and security of citizens. He added that for the purpose of construction, development and maintenance of a city-wide integrated command, control and communication system it was expedient to establish an authority.

The authority would have a 15-member body under the Sindh CM with home secretary as its vice chairperson. In the absence of the chairperson, the vice chairperson would be authorised to take all the decisions. The secretaries of different departments would be members and a director-general would be appointed to run the day-to-day affairs.

The cabinet approved the law and referred it to the assembly.

Valuation of immovable properties

The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) presented an item for revision of categories and the enhancement of valuation of immovable properties in urban areas of the province.  Senior member of the board said that the provincial government notifies valuation table of immovable properties under Section 27-A of the Stamp Act, 1899.

The valuation table consists of two components, categories of the areas and fixing of the category-wise rates. The urban areas are classified under seven categories. The notified categories are A-I, I, II, III, IV, V and VI. The rates have also been notified for each urban area comprising each category.

The last revision in categories was made in 2001. The rates of valuation table were also last revised in 2016. Those rates are far below the fair market value as valuation table notified by SRB. The board of revenue also proposed 20% enhancement in the rates.

The cabinet directed Revenue Minister Makhdoom Mahboob to review each category, propose enhancements in the rates and place it again before the cabinet at the next meeting.

Relief efforts in Thar

The cabinet also decided to continue relief activities in drought affected areas for the next three months till the situation normalises. They agreed to use the already established mechanism of distributing 50kg of wheat to each family every month.

The cabinet directed the food department to provide 814,110 wheat bags of 50kg for 280,370 families to Tharparkar deputy commissioner for three months.

The cabinet also approved Rs100 million as transportation charges of wheat from warehouses to Thar.

Gutka and mainpuri

The Sindh Cabinet approved the Sindh Probation of Preparation, Manufacturing, Storage, Sale and Use of Gutka and Manpuri Bill 2019. The cabinet observed that Gutka and Manpuri were causing cancer, therefore it must be banned. The bill was referred to Sindh Assembly. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2019.