Sindh Government would table a bill in Sindh Assembly to legislate for the protection of witnesses to enable speedy prosecutions of the accused named in high profile cases.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon after a provincial cabinet meeting at the Sindh CM house said that “we are going to bring a witness protection bill in the Assembly “. The Minister said that Sindh Chief Minister had already allocated a fund of Rupees ten million for the protection of witnesses. He told that additional funds would be provided, if needed be. The minister detested the fact that many hardened criminals and terrorists were being freed by courts due to a lack of sufficient evidence as witnesses chose not to risk their lives by recording statements against them. The minister said that the provincial government had planned to scrutinize all arms licenses after Muharram-ul-Harram and added that all arms licenses would be computerized. He said that existing license holders would be issued computerized licenses after verifying and scrutinizing their existing licensees. He told that the cabinet was also briefed on the Aushura confidential security plan. The cabinet praised the police and rangers for maintaining law and order. Sharjeel Memon said that the police had set up a monitoring cell besides installing close circuit cameras at public places and other important points in the city.
He said that a complaint centre “919” had been set up at the Chief Minister House that would respond to SOS calls of the citizens.
The minister told that Karachi police and Sindh Rangers had arrested 15 suspected terrorists since the Muharram moon was sighted. Sharjeel told that the provincial government had declared Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur districts as sensitive. The minister also criticized the policies of PML-N. Sindh Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar, Special Assistant Rashid Rabbani, Sindh Information Secretary Dr. Atta Panhwar and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Syed Waqar Mehdi were also present.