In Sindh, citizens complain of police inaction, other problems in open sessions

Malir residents protest illegal occupation of graveyard land, non-payment of salaries to teachers

NAUDERO/ KARACHI: A khuli kachehri [open court] was organised in Malir on Saturday, following Pakistan orders given by Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah pertaining to holding open courts in all districts of Sindh.

At the open court, attended by Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah and special assistant to CM Khatu Mal Jeevan, area residents complained about police inaction, besides other problems.

The public's complaints about the police were echoed by representatives elected from Malir District, who said that a rise had been observed in drug peddling, robberies and crime in general in the district but police did little to control the situation.

Speaking on the occasion, the transport minister and the special assistant noted that it was the second time the Sindh government had taken the initiative to hold open court sessions across the province, explaining that the sessions aimed to strengthen the connection between the public and the government. They also assured that strict action would be taken against officials who failed to resolve the public's issues.

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The citizens attending the session further protested the illegal occupation of graveyards in the district and non-payment of salaries to teachers.

Appeasing the protesting citizens, the transport minister assured them that the police had been instructed to end the illegal occupation of graveyards, adding that the matter of allotting more land for a graveyard in Malir was brought to the table at a recent cabinet meeting.

As far as non-payment of salaries to teachers was concerned, a committee had been formed to look into the matter and it would submit a report on the issue to the cabinet, the minister added.

As the session neared its end, he noted that most complaints made during the session pertained to police, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the district municipal corporation.

Meanwhile, Prisons Adviser Aijaz Jakhrani attended an open court session in Korangi district. He directed the district chairperson, deputy commissioner and police officials to take immediate steps for resolving people's problems.

Airing their issues

At a separate open court session, organised by Larkana SSP Masood Bangash in Naudero on the directives of Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kaleem Imam, citizens complained that they were troubled by extortion, land grabbing, police inaction and other issues.

Kashif Junejo, a resident of Kubro village, informed Bangash that "influential persons" in the area have been demanding extortion money from him, threatening to kill him in case he failed to pay them. He said that he had complained to the Naudero police multiple times, but to no avail. At this, Bangash ordered the Naudero SHO to take immediate measures to arrest the offenders.

Fish trader Khadim Mirbahar complained that he was unable to fish at his ponds located near the river as a group of criminals had been demanding extortion from him. On his complaint, Bangash directed the Ketty Mumtaz SHO to arrest the chieftain accused of leading the criminal group.

The SSP was also requested to issue directives for reinstalling a police picket in Pir Gozo, in the vicinity of the river, so that the movement of dacoits could be monitored.

An elderly citizen, Muhammad Soomar Mirani, bewailed the abduction of his daughter, adding that his other daughter's husband, Sadullha Narejo, had kidnapped her. When he said that the police had taken no action, Bangash sought more details from the Naudero DSP.

Other citizens raised the issues of gambling dens, frequent traffic jams, made worse by rickshaws and pushcart vendors, as well as the harassment of female students by men, asking the SSP to deal with them.

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Councillor Mushtaque Soomro lamented that his land, stretching over an area of more than 12 acres, had been forcibly occupied by people belonging to the Shar community, seeking assistance in retrieving his property. Separately, Bangash's attention was also drawn to a dispute between the Bhutto and Khuhro communities, when an area resident, Salam Dharejo, claimed that many "innocent lives" had been lost during the course of the feud.

Later, addressing the attendees of the session, the SSP said that the open court was organised so that the people's problems could be resolved at their doorstep, in accordance with Imam's directives. He added that the troubled citizens could also visit his office to apprise him of their problems.

Claiming that no negligence on the part of the police in resolving people's problems would be tolerated, he assured those present that all-out efforts would be made to solve their issues.

*WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2020.