‘Trackers’ planned for habitual offenders

Sindh takes lead in making convicted, under-trial street criminals wear ‘monitoring hand bands’

KARACHI:

In the wake of unabated street crime and robberies in various districts of Sindh, Sindh provincial cabinet on Tuesday decided to affix electronic devices in the body of habitual offenders, particularly the street criminals to ensure their effective monitoring.

Sindh will be the first province to pass such a law to contain street crime.

During the debate on the bill, a few cabinet members raised eyebrows referring to civil society concerns over the bill citing reasons it would be a violation of human rights if habitual criminals are forced to wear tracking devices etc. Some of the members opined that the harsh clauses would discourage street crime. After an over 40 minutes debate the draft law was approved with majority vote and referred to the assembly where it would be debated again.

"You are talking about the rights of offenders who loot and plunder the people. What about the rights of victims who are being deprived of their valuable things on the street, There is dire need for such a law," Sources quoting the chief minister said adding that the habitual offenders would be given the bail with condition to wear the tracking gadgets 24 hours, if not there strict action would be taken with heavy fine.

Presenting the draft of "The Sindh Habitual Offenders' Monitoring Bill 2022", the officials of home department said that it would ensure effective monitoring of habitual offenders using modern technology; checking the menace of street crime and ensuring safer cities and neighborhoods in the province focusing on urban areas.

According to the law an electronic monitoring unit in the form of an anklet or bracelet would be affixed to a habitual offender. "A single-unit tracking device for each Habitual Offender that contains a central processing unit with global positioning system and cellular technology in a single unit; and permit active, real time, and continuous monitoring of offenders round the clock," the bill said.

Read More: Cabinet vows to end street crime

Section-3 of the draft law spells out the procedure for attachment of electronic monitoring devices. The law says the tracking device would be affixed through Court's Order upon application of Prosecutor or Police Officer for the period, the criminal would remain on bail. The court would explain the operation of the device and its terms & conditions to the habitual offender.

The law further said that there would be three-year imprisonment on the habitual offender for his failure to comply with terms and conditions and imposes Rs1 million penalty or three years imprisonment in case of tampering with electronic monitoring device.

"The habitual offender would have to seek prior permission from the officer in charge of the Police Station of the concerned area before moving from his permanent place of residence for any period and to keep him informed about the place he would be visiting and the persons he would be meeting during the stay," The Section 5 of the draft law reads.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2022.