Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah asked senior Sindh Police officers on Thursday to work out possibilities for joint action by the Investigation and Operation sections of the police to handle criminal cases.
Presiding over a law and order meeting held at the CM House, the CM said, “Police officers should give suggestions for joint action in investigations and operations of cases to save time and achieve prompt results.”
He said that several political parties’ Members Provincial Assembly had been demanding the government for a long time to merge the police’s Investigation and Operation wings by making amendments in the Police Order of 2002. Both sections of the police were separated under the law during former president Pervez Musharraf’s rule, he added. The CM directed the police officers to investigate the cases properly and provide sufficient evidences to the courts so that the suspects are thoroughly investigated and convicted.
He ordered the station house officers of the police to comprehensively attend to cases they register and pursue them until they are solved. He directed the police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to take prompt and specific measures to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the province and evolve a strategy to curb activities of criminals and anti-social elements. He said that efforts must be made to restore peace all across the province, particularly in Karachi and the upper districts, and the rate of crime – including targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, murders and theft – be reduced.
He added that he is satisfied with the efforts regarding reduction in crime rate in some districts, and that he hoped that coordinated steps would be taken for controlling and eliminating crime. Sindh Inspector General of Police Wajid Ali Durrani said that the overall law and order situation in the city has been normalised due to joint efforts of the LEAs and proactive policy, except in a few areas like Orangi Town, Pak Colony and Lyari Town.
He said that only 13 cases of targeted killings were reported in June and murder rate has also decreased, whereas the police foiled two bomb attacks as well. He also said that the Eagle Force comprising 300 personnel has been raised to a reserve force at zonal level. He informed the participants of the meeting that 148 accused targeted killers were arrested and 273 cases were detected during 2010-2011.
He said that in 33 kidnapping cases, 45 people were kidnapped, 39 abductees recovered and one killed by kidnappers, whereas 50 abductors were arrested and four killed.
He also said that in June, 66 encounters between the police and suspects had taken place, 45 criminals gangs busted, and 374 bandits/criminals and 142 proclaimed offenders/absconders arrested.
Moreover, one light machine gun, three submachine guns/Kalashnikovs, 12 rifles, 10 repeaters/shotguns, 365 pistols, 19 revolvers, three hand grenades, one suicide jacket, 36 daggers and 430 vehicles were recovered, he added.
