Damage control: The big boys meet to discuss Police Act 1861, arrests of foreigners

MQM chief Altaf Hussain, lauded at CM house meeting.

KARACHI:

The government has decided that it is best for foreigners to carry all their documentation while travelling in Karachi and other districts.

The decision comes in the wake of a Canadian couple’s detention by the police on Thursday, after their visa had expired on July 4.

A meeting was held at the CM House to discuss the law and order situation in Karachi. It was chaired by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

The meeting also reviewed the Police Act 1861 and decided to reserve important decisions regarding the implementation of the act for Saturday. The home department was asked to put together a comprehensive strategy regarding the new act before implementing the new system.

The government officials also decided to deploy more police personnel and frontier constabulary in sensitive areas of the city to avert any untoward incident.

The gathering hailed MQM chief Altaf Hussain, president Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister for their role in stabilising Karachi’s volatile situation.

Home Minister Manzoor Wasan, chief secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, IGP Sindh Wajid Durrani and CCPO Karachi Saud Mirza attended the meeting. Pakistan ambassador to UAE Khurshid Junejo, MNA Qadir Patel and Senator Islamuddin Shaikh also visited the chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2011.