CM approves plan to e-tag criminals

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday approved a police plan to introduce e-tagging of habitual offenders with 7,500 criminals to be e-tagged in the first phase.

The chief minister took this decision while presiding over a meeting at the CM House on Wednesday, said a statement issued by his office.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, CM adviser Murtaza Wahab, IG Police Mushtaq Maher, Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, and others.

During the meeting, the chief minister said that in his last meeting he had directed the police to start extensive patrolling and take strict action against street criminals. 

At this, the AIG said that from January to Feb 28, at least 143 criminals were killed and 147 injured in 143 police encounters. He added that 1,446 criminals have been arrested so far.

The chief minister was told that patrolling has been increased in the city and intelligence-based targeted operations were also in progress.

Read City faces spate of violent crimes

About the e-tagging of the habitual offenders, the IG disclosed that 7,500 offenders have been identified who are either on bail or at large.

Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab said that a draft law for the e-tagging of the repeat offenders has been prepared and sent to the respective committee for vetting. The chief minister formally approved the proposal and directed his law adviser to expedite its vetting so that it could be discussed and approved in the cabinet.

Rehab for addicts

The Sindh CM also said that he had directed the police and administration to start removing drug addicts from the streets as they were reportedly responsible for a number of street crimes.

Chief Secretary Mumtaz said that he has identified a suitable place at Gulshan-e-Maymar where drug addicts would be rehabilitated. At this, the chief minister directed the chief secretary to provide all the required facilities at the proposed center so that police could start removing the drug addicts from the streets and send them over to rehab.

“The drug addicts are involved in street crime; therefore, their removal from the street is most important,” the CM claimed.

Discussing the cancellation of bails of habitual offenders and strengthening the police's prosecution department, Murad directed the law adviser and the police chief to engage a panel of leading lawyers to prosecute criminals.

The CM also directed the police to arrange prosecution through competent private lawyers in high-profile cases. “I want to put a sizable number of lawyers on a panel and the complainant of the case will have the choice to select any lawyer out of the panel to represent them in their cases,” he said.

Youth centres

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in order to improve physical, and behavioral fitness of youngsters, has decided to establish Youth Centers in all the districts of Karachi. "Youth Centres provide a safe and supervised facility for youth to engage in educational, and leisure activities which encourage the growth of positive self-esteem."

This he said on Wednesday while presiding over a meeting to review development works launched in the city. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Advisor law Murtaza Wahab, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, Members P&D Boards- Faisal Uqaili, Fatah Tunio and other concerned officers.

The chief minister said that he had already directed the Planning and Development Department to prepare a scheme to establish Youth centers in every district of the city where educational, social, sports and family gathering could be held in a safe and secure environment.

"We have a similar facility in the shape of YMC ground, but the new centers would have a library, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, tuck shops, coffee shops, film and drama screening facility, community gathering hall," he said and added we have to bring our children towards positive activities to secure their future.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2022.