Zardari advocates rehabilitation for surrendered Kacha dacoits

President Asif Ali Zardari has stated that criminals from the Kacha Area in Sindh, except for hardened criminals, who are willing to surrender to the state, should be gradually brought into the mainstream and rehabilitated to become responsible and productive citizens.

The president expressed these views while chairing a meeting on the law and order situation in Sindh, held in Sukkur on Monday. He also called for stern action against hardcore criminals involved in heinous crimes.

The president emphasised the need to improve the road, health, and education infrastructure of the Kacha Areas on a priority basis to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the people.

He advised that a qaumi jirga, comprising tribal chiefs, should be convened to engage and negotiate with the local population to bring normalcy, prevent crimes, de-weaponise, and improve the security situation in the area.

Zardari was briefed about the security situation in Sindh and the implementation status of the directions given during the previous meeting on May 1. He was informed that crimes and violence in Sindh, especially in Karachi and Kacha Areas, had shown a declining trend due to the effective strategies adopted by the police and Rangers.

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Sindh IG Police Ghulam Nabi reported that dacoit activities had been significantly reduced and no highway-related crimes had been reported in the past two months. It was highlighted that targeted operations and the installation of smart cameras had helped control crimes by identifying and arresting criminals and their abettors.

Sindh DG Rangers Major General Azhar Waqasinformed that 133 joint operations had been conducted by the Sindh Police and the Rangers, leading to the arrest of hundreds of dacoits and criminals. He stated that additional check posts had also been established in various parts of Kacha Areas to control crime.

The meeting was further informed that, on the direction of the president, the campaign against drug peddlers had intensified, resulting in the arrest of 308 suppliers while smart cameras were also installed to monitor the entry points of the province.

The president emphasised that the Sindh government should focus on raising a modern police force to effectively meet the security challenges and requirements of the province. He underlined the need to strengthen the capacity of the Sindh Police by providing them with modern equipment, weapons, adequate human resources, and logistics.

Zardari also stressed the importance of incentivising police officials to enable them to perform their duties with great committment. “We also need to encourage women to join the Sindh Police,” he added. He further stated that the welfare of the families and children of martyrs of the Sindh Police should be ensured.

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The president also directed the expedited upgrading of the Sakrand Police Commando School and the provision of land for establishing a Cadet College for Police. He added that selected students of the Cadet College would be educated and trained to join the Sindh Police.

He appreciated the performance of the Sindh government, police, and Rangers in controlling crime and improving the security situation in the province.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, MNA Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Speaker Assembly Syed Waqar Qadir Shah, MNA Sharjeel Memon, Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Home, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar, Sindh Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Memon, and GOC 16 Div Major General Aamer Amin also attended the meeting.