Nisar’s neglected tasks

He has a lot of catching up to do

The loss of interest followed by a virtual resignation and neglect of duties by Ch Nisar has had a negative impact on the law and order situation. An outstanding example is Karachi. The promise to step up action against terrorists and common criminals made in May has yet to be fulfilled. One of the reasons why this could not happen is a lack of understanding between the provincial chief minister and the interior minister which has stood in the way of the appointment of a permanent IG Police, a post lying vacant since February. The orders by the Supreme Court in March to fill the post within a week are yet to be implemented. Ch Nisar paid a flying visit to Karachi airport after it was attacked by the terrorists last month but returned without meeting the chief minister which was resented by the provincial government.

The law and order situation in KP and Balochistan remains worrisome. The terrorist networks have again become active in Bannu and Peshawar where they have targetted personnel of the law enforcement agencies. The attacks by insurgents and religious extremists continue to take place in Balochistan. This shows that despite all the noise made about a timely sharing of intelligence between the federal agencies and provincial governments, things basically remain where they were a year ago.

The unsatisfactory law and order situation in Karachi was again the main subject of discussion at a high level meeting presided over by the prime minister in Karachi. There is a dire need on the part of the Sindh government to put its act together. There is simultaneously a need on the part of the interior ministry to put life in NACTA, the centrepiece of its security edifice which continues to remain dormant. After the government failed to settle the dispute regarding who was to exercise control over NACTA, Islamabad High Court has decided that the body is to be under prime minister’s control as envisaged in the law enacted during the PPP tenure.