President Zardari: Don’t just brief, do something practical

Taking serious notice of the target killings and growing extortion incidents in Karachi,

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday asked the provincial government and law enforcement agencies not to give him a briefing on the situation but rather they should take some practical steps to curb crimes. He also said that the inefficient officials of the law enforcement agencies should be shown the door and instead dedicated and capable officials should be posted so that the law and order situation in the port city could be improved. He advised the Sindh government to consult its coalition partners for legislation to control technology-related crimes and protect witnesses and victims’ families.He also directed the provincial administration to take action against the officials of the law enforcement agencies if they failed to control law and order their areas. He also called explanations’ about the performance of the law enforcement agencies anddirected the authorities to post competent officers of the law enforcement agencies to curb crimes. The president emphasised that the maintenance of law and order was the shared responsibility of all the political forces and concerted efforts should be made by all to ensure peace in the metropolis. The president expressed concern over the increase in the crimes in the provincial capital in a high level meeting held to review the law and order situation in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik briefed him about the situation. After the meeting, Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the media that the president had taken serious notice of the use of mobile phones by the militants and criminals and directed the Sindh government to work out a plan so that no SIMs could be delivered to the retail shops and the outlets of mobile companies. He said that the arrangements should be made to post the SIMs to the addresses of the applicant as mentioned in their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). The president directed the federal interior minister to frame a draft policy in this regard for the approval of the cabinet. Sources said that the political and related crimes and the release of criminals on parole also came under discussion in the meeting and the president advised the Sindh Law Minister to work on suitable legislation, in consultation with all the stakeholders, for the protection of the witnesses, victims and their families. He observed that one of the reasons hindering effective prosecution was that the witnesses backed out due to fear and insecurity. He advised the government to study the model of witness protection laws adopted in other countries in the wake of rising militant activities. On the proliferation of the arms and ammunition in Karachi, the president observed that arms licences should be Smart Card-based to ensure that no fake licences were issued.It was also directed to the provincial government that no effort should be spared in ensuring law and order and no discrimination should be made in doing justice with law violators. He said that maintaining law and order and ensuring safety and security of the citizen was the prime responsibility of the government and all efforts should be taken in this regard. Asif Ali Zardari was informed about the details of the target killing in which hundreds of the persons had been killed in political, ethnic and sectarian crimes in the last four years. The president directed the authorities to continue targeted action against the criminals without any discrimination. Spokesman further said tat the president chaired three more separate meetings at CM House regarding the establishment of state-of-the-art kidney and liver centre in Islamabad, increasing the number of merit-based as well as other seats for rural Sindh in the Sindh Medical University, and also laid the foundation stone of the housing society for the Civil Service Academy Alumni, Sindh Chapter.