KARACHI – The city’s police chief was on Saturday directed to revive the community policing system and ensure effective policing in commercial and industrial areas for protecting the business community from extortionists. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah issued these directives in a meeting with traders and businessmen of the city at the Chief Minister’s House. The meeting was also attended by Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi Saud Mirza, DIG Police (South) Iqbal Mehmood, Tahir Khaliq, Haroon Farooqi, Anjum Nisal and Talat Mehmood among others.
Talking with the participants, the chief minister said it was the prime responsibility of government and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to maintain law and order and provide proper security to the life and property of the people. “Traders, industrialists and the businessmen community play an important role in strengthening the economy of a country, while concerted efforts are required to curb the menace of ‘bhatta khori’ (money extortion), kidnappings for ransom, robberies, burglaries and lawlessness,” said Shah.
Directing the CCPO to revive community policing system in Karachi, he asked the police chief to enforce a proper, effective and prompt policing system in commercial and business areas, SITE, and residential housing societies, where extortionists, kidnappers and bandits are operating. Ensuring the participants of the meeting that the government was taking all administrative and political measures to do the needful, Shah also directed the CCPO to immediately establish police pickets in old city areas like Denso Hall, Joria Bazaar, Boulton Market, Mereweather Tower, New Chhali, Kharadar, etc and enhance the police force in the SITE area.
The chief minister also ordered increase in police patrolling and regular visits of police officials to various business areas. “The federal government has been approached for reviving magisterial powers to control law and order and commodity prices and necessary amendments will be made accordingly,” said Shah. It was also decided in the meeting to activate the public safety commission programme at the earliest and launching a campaign against unlicensed arms for which all arms’ licences will be revoked and fresh computerised licenses issued.
