Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) was imperative; therefore, its implementation must be done accordingly. He said that, “Whatever assignment the government of Sindh has been entrusted under the national action plan must be given top priority. It is our commitment and we have to fulfill it.”
Qaim Ali Shah presiding over the cabinet meeting at CM House on Tuesday, which was attended by Provincial ministers Syed Murad Ali Shah, Manzoor Wassan, Sharjeel Memon, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Makhdoom Jameel, Sohial Siyal, Gianchand Israni, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Dost Mohammmad Rahmoo, Jam Khan Shoro and others. Chief secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, ACS (Development) Mohammad Waseem, Senior Member Board of Revenue Syed Mumtaz Shah, Secretary Home Mukhtiar Soomro and others.
Secretary Home Mukhtar Soomro, while giving presentation to the cabinet on the implementation of the NAP, said that in order to send cases for speedy trial to the military courts, the legal committee held three meetings to scrutinize 85 cases. The committee after thorough scrutiny recommended 64 cases for military courts but Ministry of Interior cleared only three of them which stand transferred to Military Courts along with under trial prisoners (UTPs).
Talking about terrorist outfits such as TTP and their affiliates, the secretary said that 661 banned religious outfits have been identified. “Since January 2015, 447 terrorists and criminals have been killed and 41,077 arrested by Sindh police,” Soomro said.
Giving details of hate speech, he said the government has adopted zero tolerance in this case. “Since 2015, some 753 cases under loudspeaker Act have been registered and 417 arrested. Over all 24 cases of production and distribution of hate materials have been registered and 28 culprits have been arrested,” Soomro informed the committee.
Briefing about choking financing of terrorist organizations, the home secretary said that information of terrorists was being shared with concerned authorities such as FIA and state bank during JIT. Furthermore, he said that the local government department has also dismantled illegal hydrants.
Talking about establishment and deployment of a dedicated counter terrorism force, home secretary Mukhtar Soomro said that the CTD has been notified regarding initial force of 100 personnel. IG police Mr Ghulam Hyder Jamali informed the meeting that 2000 retired personnel of army, rangers, police have also been recruited. “They have started their work and have killed 199 terrorists and arrested 62,” he said.
The chief minister directed Jamali to submit a detailed proposal for the office accommodation and other logistics necessary for smooth working of counter terrorism department.
Mukhtar Soomro briefed the cabinet about the adoption of zero tolerance policy regarding religious persecution. Hindu Marriage Act was under consideration and meeting was held with minority communities on June 3. “We also held a meeting with Bohra, Ismaili communities as was decided in the last Apex Committee meeting. Another meeting with them is also scheduled next week,” he said.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah directed the law department to expedite the legislation work of Hindu Marriage Act. “This is most important”, he said asking the department officials to bring the draft to next assembly session.
Giving details of Madarsesah registration the home secretary said out of 9,590 religious seminaries 6,503 were registered and 3,078 were yet to be registered. “In the unregistered seminaries 517,696 students, including foreign nationals were receiving education,” he said.
Secretary Home further said that under the revamping of Criminal justice system witness protection mechanism is provided in witness protection act 2013, anti-terrorism Act 1997 and Pakistan Protection Act 2014.
“To improve investigation, the cost of investigation has been provided. DNA Labs has been established at LUMS, Jamshoro and Dow University Karachi. Forensic Lab facility is being developed and appointment of 200 Inspectors (law graduates) is also under process,” he said.
The Home Secretary said that around one million Afghan refugees were living in Sindh. Addresiing the CM, screatary home said that “on your directives meetings with SAFRON, Commissioner Afghan Refugees and NADRA were held in which it was agreed that 18 centers for registration of Afghan citizens would be set up in province, of them seven in Karachi, four in Hyderabad, two in Shaheed Benazirabad, two in Sukkkur, two in Mirpuurkhas and one in Larkana.
Briefing on Safoora Goth incident:
IG Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali briefed that the terrorists arrested in Safoora Goth tragedy confessed their involvement in 37 cases of terrorism in Karachi and Hyderabad. “These 37 cases include murder, bank dacoities, attack on mosques, Rangers and police,” he said.
He said the accused used code names and Talkray, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software for communication. They are highly educated with good financial background. This group has more than 15 terrorists who are active in crime.
Lyari Operation
IGP Jamali apprised the committee about Lyari operation. He said that 81 gangsters of Lyari Gang War had been neutralized in 2015.
He said that kidnapping for ransom has been eliminated from Sindh and Highway robberies, bank dacoities had also been reduced by a large percentage.
Development Strategy:
Senior Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah told the cabinet that during the out-going year the government had released Rs118 billion for development schemes. “This is a substantial amount and with the release of new financial year various important schemes would be completed,” he said.
Chief Minister Shah directed all the provincial ministers to monitor work on the development schemes of their respective departments and to keep visiting them to ensure their timely completion.
“I want you to be vigilant while carrying out development work of your department and in your constituency. I would personally visit the uplift works,” he added.
