‘Operation clean-up’ in kutcha areas on cards

Sindh cabinet approves Rs2.7b for latest weaponry

KARACHI:

Following the rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom by gangs of dacoits operating in kutcha (riverine) areas of Sindh, the provincial cabinet on Thursday decided to launch a “decisive clean up operation “ with the help of the police of Punjab and Balochistan, Rangers and armed forces.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired the hours-long meeting and directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon to coordinate with his Balochistan and Punjab counterparts so that an operation could be planned in the kutcha areas. An amount of Rs2.79 billion was approved for the procurement of sophisticated military-grade field and surveillance weapons.

“The criminals who challenge the police and State will be dealt with an iron hand and crushed,” the CM said.

The meeting was briefed on kidnapping for ransom cases and attacks on police forces in riverine areas of Ghotki, Shikarpur and Sukkur districts. “We need the latest weapons and proper surveillance system during the operations,” the IGP said. 

He said that the purchase of military-grade weapons and surveillance systems was discussed in the previous meeting of the provincial apex committee chaired by the chief minister on January 5. The meeting had approved the proposal.

The IGP informed the cabinet that the weapons and surveillance system were required to crush the hardened gangs of criminals operating in the kutcha area of district Kashmore, Shikarpur, and Ghotki “as they possess sophisticated weapons”.

The cabinet was informed that funds amounting to Rs2.796 billion were required for the procurement, which approved the proposal and sanctioned the requested amount. It directed the Home department to seek an NOC from the Ministry of Interior for the purchase.

Covid fund

The meeting also discussed the Covid emergency fund. The provincial cabinet was told that the Coronavirus Emergency Fund was created on March 18, 2020, under the chief secretary with the secretary finance, secretary health, Dr Abdul Bari of Indus Hospital, Faisal Edhi, and Mushtaq Chhapra as its members. The team had met 17 times since it was set up.

The fund received Rs3.313 billion in donations from government entities from March 18, 2020, to March 3, 2023. It included Rs1.3 billion transferred from the Sindh Social Relief Fund and Rs517.19 million donated through salaries deductions of Sindh government employees. Rs254.701 million was donated by private entities and individuals.

Price Control

In order to implement price control during Ramazan, the cabinet approved giving powers to officers of Bureau of Supply & Prices (BSP) to inspect prices. The BSP officers include the director general, additional commissioner-I and II (divisional level), the director, deputy directors, assistant directors and the deputy director /additional director among others.

The cabinet also decided to appoint rights activist Iqbal Detho as chairperson of Sindh Human Rights Commission after Justice retired Majidi Rizvi’s tenure came to an end.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2023.