The Sindh government has decided to establish at least 30 more anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) to improve the law and order situation in Karachi and other cities.
Sindh CM’s Adviser on Information Maula Bux Chandio told reporters after a meeting of the provincial apex committee that 8,000 more police personnel would be recruited to strengthen the police force. “The number of CCTV cameras in Karachi and the province will also be increased,” said Chandio.
“The government has not taken any decision regarding the deployment of Rangers and Pakistan Army personnel in polling stations during local bodies polls in Karachi,” said Chandio, adding that the government will follow whatever decision ECP will take in this regard.
“If a security issue arises during the polls, Rangers will be allowed to enter the polling stations,” Chandio said.
At the onset of the meeting, prayer was said for the two military personnel who were killed in an attack on Karachi’s M.A. Jinnah road Tuesday.
The meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, was attended by Rangers Director General Bilal Akbar, a representative of corps headquarters, high officials of law-enforcement agencies and the government.
In a separate meeting with Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and DG Rangers Gen Bilal Akbar, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said implementation of NAP is a duty of the provincial government. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad also attended this meeting.
The apex body meeting also discussed the security arrangements for Chehlum of Imam Hussain and local government polls, and discussed cases in military courts and Tuesday’s attack on military police, sources said.
DG Rangers Gen Bilal and Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Hyder Jamali briefed the meeting on the progress of ongoing Karachi operation and the security situation.
The apex body meeting comes just a day after two masked men on a motorbike shot dead two army personnel as they targeted a Military Police jeep on MA Jinnah Road, one of the city’s busiest arteries, sowing fear and panic in the neighbourhood.
The incident set alarm bells ringing in the security and political administration as Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called Corps Commander, Karachi, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, to convene a meeting on today to discuss progress on implementation of NAP.