Karachi unrest: Zardari for witness protection law

Asks Sindh authorities to study laws in force in other countries as a model.

KARACHI:

Following the Supreme Court’s order on the Karachi law and order case, President Asif Ali Zardari has called for concerted efforts to ensure peace in the metropolitan city, the responsibility for which, he added, is shared by all political forces. 

Chairing a meeting at the CM House on Thursday, the president stressed that no effort should be spared in maintaining the law and order and no discrimination should be made in dispensing justice to all law-violators.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah briefed the meeting about the overall law and order situation in the province, with a focus on Karachi. Interior Minister Rehman Malik also gave an overview of the security situation.

The president said that ensuring safety and security of the citizens was the prime responsibility of the government. He advised the provincial law minister to work on enacting suitable legislation, in consultation with all stakeholders, for the protection of witnesses and their families.

One of the reasons hindering effective prosecution was that witnesses backed out due to fear and insecurity, he said while advising the government to study the model of witness protection laws adopted in other countries.

Taking note of the use of mobile phones by militants and criminals, the president asked the government to work out a plan so that  SIMs are not sold at the retail shops and are, instead, posted to the addresses of the applicants. He directed the interior minister to frame draft policy for the Cabinet’s approval. President Zardari also observed that arms licences should be “Smart Card” based to ensure that no fictitious licences are issued.

‘We will defeat terrorists, come what may’

President Zardari said the government would fight against the mindset that attacked child activist Malala Yousafzai.

“Come what may, we will eliminate them and success will touch our feet,” he said, while addressing a function of the Civil Services Academy Alumni at CM House on Thursday.

He dispelled the impression that there was a clash among the country’s institutions. “The government has no conflict with the judiciary or army. Some people think it’s a clash, but I say it’s a part of evolution,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari stressed the need for effective and dedicated civil service officers who could play a decisive role in finding solutions to the issues confronted by the country.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on the establishment of the Pakistan Kidney Institute (PKI) on Thursday, the president said that the public-private partnership model can be successfully followed to overcome the shortage of medical facilities.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2012.