KARACHI – Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari on Saturday announced revamping the Police Helpline 15 for efficient crime reporting and police action. He said this while addressing a luncheon meeting at the office of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
Agreeing that cases of kidnapping were not only defaming Karachi but tarnishing the image of Pakistan internationally, the provincial police chief assured the business community that effective measures would be taken to curb such heinous crimes.
Leghari said that the city police have recently apprehended 35 gangs involved in bhatta (extortion) and kidnapping for ransom, however, the matter of kidnapping for ransom is complicated and the business community should cooperate with the police and provide the detail of the criminals.
He further informed the participants that high-ups are being approached for providing cell phone locators to curb crimes and he was in contact with KATI Patron In-Chief SM Muneer for monitoring the situation. He said that a Crime Monitoring Board is under consideration, and after consultations with the Sindh chief minister, KATI representatives would also be included in the proposed board.
Expressing sheer dismay over the deteriorating law and order situation in the city that is causing losses of billions of rupees to industrialists and traders, Muneer said that frequent increase in utilities charges and highest interest rate has almost crippled the economy and now business community is facing another brunt of harassment by the extortion mafia.
The KATI patron in-chief asked the IGP to take stringent measures to maintain the law and order situation in the city and advised the law enforcing agencies especially Karachi police to improve its intelligence and strength of under-cover policemen. He added that there should be an end to strikes and the holiday culture that is causing immense losses to the national economy.
KATI Chairman Syed Johar Ali Qandhari demanded of the IGP that police check posts should be set up immediately at the 12 entry and exit points of the Korangi Industrial Area in order to have effective police monitoring in the country’s largest industrial area. “The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) should be provided facilities for monitoring crimes and kidnappings for ransom,” he added.
Former KATI chairman Mian Zahid Hussain, in his address to the participants, depicted the bleak picture of trade and industry due to various reasons especially poor law and order situation and harassment by gangsters. He added that due to frequent increases in utilities’ tariffs and petroleum prices besides high interest rates have already hurt the industry.
Pointing out the use of mobile phones in most of the crimes, he urged that the government should provide mobile phone locaters to the city police. Former KATI chairman Gulzar Feroz also pointed out that some gangs were looting people through fake pay-orders in connivance with the banks’ staff.
On the occasion, the CPLC chief announced that a CPLC regional office is being established in the Korangi Industrial Area.
