Army to train 20,000 fresh cops in Sindh

Apex committee informed that cases of terrorism and targeted killings have reduced by 80 per cent

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved appointments of 20,000 policemen for the province, including 8,000 for Karachi.

Corps Commander Lt General Naveed Mukhtar said that he would make necessary arrangements to train the new force by Pakistan Army.

The decision was taken in the apex committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shah at the CM House on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, provincial ministers, Corps Commander Karachi Lt General Naveed Mukhtar, Acting Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Sindh IG AD Khwaja and others.

DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar and Sindh IGP AD Khwaja gave presentations on the performance of their forces and also highlighted issues and challenges. The apex committee developed new strategy to address these issues and face the challenges.

It was pointed out during the meeting that the incidents of target killings, kidnapping for ransom and extortion have reduced in the city. The figures quoted in the presentation said that the cases of terrorism and target killing had reduced by 80 per cent. In 2013, there were 80 to 100 target killing incidents every month but now hardly any such incident takes place. Similarly, the cases of extortion have reduced by 85 per cent and kidnapping for ransom by 90 per cent. In 2013, some 1,774 cases of kidnapping were reported and in the first five months of 2016 only 13 cases were registered.

The meeting was told that after the operation against Chhotu Gang was launched in Punjab, the Sindh Rangers had started extensive checking on the borders of Sindh-Punjab and Sindh-Balochistan. The check posts were also set up along the River Indus from where penetration of terrorists was expected. The committee appreciated the efforts and spirit of Pakistan Rangers.

It was noted that due to restoration of law and order in the city the prices of property in Karachi have increased by 23 per cent. The sale in the markets of Karachi during last Ramzan jumped to Rs70 billion, sale of national flags and buntings on August 14 increased to Rs5 billion and trade and industry also flourished.

The committee expressed its satisfaction on the current situation and decided to develop new strategy to make peace in the city sustainable. Considering the situation, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah approved the appointments of 20,000 policemen, including 8,000 in Karachi and Corps Commander Lt General Naveed Mukhtar assured to make necessary arrangements to train the new force by Pakistan army.

The chief minister told the committee that establishment of new 10 ATCs was almost in the final stage. “We are going to establish six ATCs at Central Jail Karachi and their buildings would be ready by the mid of June 2016 and they would start functioning from July 1, 2016,” he said. The Sindh High Court had assured his law team that they would appoint judges for the new ATCs.

The chief minister also informed the meeting that he had approved the appointment of 200 prosecutors. He, on the insistence of the committee, directed the law minister to explore the provision of appointing them as soon as possible at least for initial six months and by the time the SPSC would finalise their appointments. “I would not allow any appointment made against merit,” he said.

The committee also gave a go ahead to the IGP to upgrade its GSM of 2G locators to the level of 4G locators. He pointed out that the federal government was reluctant to give them NOC for purchasing other 4G GSM locators for which the chief minister, governor and corps commander urged him to use their good offices to equip Sindh police with latest gadgets.

The IG said that the installation of new CCTV cameras of 10 MP would cost Rs 1.76 billion. The committee allowed the IGP to work out the issues with the secretary finance under the guideline of chief secretary. The government was committed to providing CCTV to Sindh police in the city, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said, adding he would issue necessary directives to his department to arrange funds for police.

The meeting was informed that 8,855 madrassas had been registered and registration of 1,178 madrassas was under process. It was also pointed out that over 10,000 ghost madrassa had been unearthed through physical verification. This verification was made when 7,724 madrassas were geo-tagged.

The meeting took another decision of setting up Rangers check points at Sindh-Balochistan and Sindh-Bunjab borders and providing them necessary facilities.

The meeting decided to strengthen special branch, CTD, trainings centers and Karachi police by providing them necessary equipments, vehicles, force, trainings. It also approved compensation for killed policemen/member of LEA at Rs 6 million plus two jobs for the victim family members.

The apex committee decided that the police would be strengthened in all intents and purposes. The chair approved the establishment of benevolent and welfare board to provide necessary facilities to the policemen and their families.

The committee meeting was also informed that the chief minister had approved PC-I to establish forensic lab for technical evidence. The NADRA have also been requested to provide police access to the family tree of criminals. Now investigation has become a technical job and it must be traced through data base, the IG said.

Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar told the meeting that he had developed National Action Plan (NAP) Software through which consolidated data of Larkana and Sukkur divisions had been developed.

He said that he was developing a similar software for Karachi and others divisions. He offered the Sindh police to have access to the software for ready references. The meeting also decided to further strengthen intelligence system so that there should not be forced collection of fitrana and zakat during Ramzan.

The apex committee also urged the IG to appoint special force for the security of Chinese working on the CPEC and such the other projects. Some 2,000 force of ex-army men was also being created for this purpose, the committee was told.

The chief minister also appreciated the collective efforts of Rangers, police, intelligence agencies and support of corps commander and governor to implement NAP and make the Karachi operation successful.