‘Peace committees’ another unfulfilled promise by Sindh government

KARACHI – Sindh government’s announcement of constituting ‘peace committees’ in all parts of Karachi at town and union council levels to thwart terror activities has apparently reduced to just another unfulfilled promise as the decision is pending implementation. The provincial government and the City District Government Karachi had decided constituting peace committees in October 2009 in a meeting that was chaired by Home Secretary Arif Khan.
The meeting was also attended by then Capital City Police Officer Waseem Ahmed, deputy inspectors general of three city zones, town police officers, then City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, District Coordination Officer Javed Hanif, town nazims of the city government and representatives the law enforcement agencies. The participants of the meeting were given a detailed briefing on the overall law and order situation of the city and the expected terror activities by anti-social elements.
According to the decision taken in the meeting, peace bodies were to be constituted in every union council at the town level to maintain close coordination with the law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, to monitor criminal activities.
However, the project remains a dream for the citizens of Karachi who are dealing with frequent targeted killings and suicide bombings.
The peace committees were supposed to comprise elected representatives, prominent area residents, members of the civil society, and station house officers concerned, who were supposed to keep in touch and hold meetings on regular basis. The committee members were also supposed to closely monitor the law and order situation in their respective areas and recommend measures to the police. Notorious criminals have arrived in the city due to ongoing military operation in South Waziristan, and these people could carry out terror activities in the city, claiming lives of innocent citizens.
On the other hand, there are a number of no-go areas in the metropolis where the personnel of the law enforcement agencies could not enter. Considering the gravity of the situation, the provincial government should take serious measures with regard to forming peace committees.