Sindh PA concerned over worsening law and order

The law and order situation -- including street crime, dacoities and kidnapping for ransom as well as drugs on Karachi educational campuses dominated the proceedings of the Sindh Assembly on Friday.

Opposition members belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) criticised the law enforcers for their negligent role in curbing the criminal activities in the session chaired by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

"I was robbed outside my house. No one is safe in their house or outside," said PTI Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Adeeba Hassan. "There is no writ of the State. The police are missing from the streets. It looks like the city has been handed over to the criminals, extortionists and drug peddlers," said said while moving the calling-attention notice. Responding to PTI MPA Adeeba Hassan, Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani said that the chief minister recently held a number of meetings with the inspector general of police and the Karachi police chief to discuss concerns over street crime. In the meetings, the CM gave clear directives to the police to control the situation.

"I personally see the police have set up pickets and are patrolling in many areas. I agree that there are some issues, but law and order and crime have reduced as compared to the past," he said.

Shaharyar Mahar of GDA drew attention towards instances of kidnapping for ransom in Shikarpur, Ghotki and Sukkur areas. He said hold ups including depriving people of their motorcycle or cell phone were on the rise in small towns and cities. "Every time when we raise this issue, the CM promises to control the law and order and curb street crimes, but this never happens. We request the Sindh government to either curb the crime or issue arm licences to the people so that they can adopt safety measures on their own," he said.

Ghani acknowledged that certain parts of Sindh were volatile while adding that the provincial government was taking approrpriate action in conjunction with police and law enforcement agencies. "I'll bring this issue into the knowledge of CM and IGP," he said. During the session, the issue of drug peddling on educational campuses and elsewhere in Karachi was also raised.

Shahnawaz Jadon of PTI told the House that drugs were sold openly and claimed that the dealers had their tacit support. "It looks like there is always a festival-like situation in Keamari area. The youngsters consume drugs instead of going to school. I have raised the same points a number of times in the House and want to know what action has been taken against the drug mafia," he said.

Saeed Ghani responded that police had arrested around 115 suspects involved in drug dealing.

Muhammad Hussain of the MQM said that some educational institutions had turned into veritable dens where gangs supplied crystal meth or ice (methamphetamine), heroin and hashish (cannabis) in an organised manner. "It is on the rise and if if the government does not take it seriously, then our future generations will be spoilt," he said. He added that the drug problem was across genders with the number of addicts on the rise. "This is being done under the supervision of the police," he claimed.

The session was adjourned till Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2023.