Law and order: Police on security duties to be relieved by FC men

Police activities suffered because officers were guarding sensitive points.

KARACHI:

The police have said that they are utilising the Frontier Constabulary (FC) for security duties so that the police can focus on curbing violence in the city.

About 5,000 policemen, of a total force comprising 30,000 officers, are deployed at offices, jails, banks, and also provide security to VIPs. More than 2,000 FC personnel are already stationed in Karachi but few are posted at security duties. The police authorities have finally taken a decision to relieve these policemen so the department can focus on maintaining law and order in the city.

The Sindh government and police authorities said that they had no news of 200 more FC men arriving in the city on Saturday. They believe that the present strength is enough if the manpower is utilised optimally.

Sharfuddin Memon, who serves as an adviser to the Sindh home minister, told The Express Tribune that he was unaware of any decision by the government about the arrival of the more FC personnel. However, additional IG Saud Mirza said that it might be possible that more FC men could arrive.

He explained that police operations suffered because officers were deployed on security duties. This is why the police authorities decided to replace them with FC personnel who are already stationed in the city. “Even if 2,000 men are back from security duties, it will make a lot of difference,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2011.