KARACHI, Oct 26: Sindh home department, following an approval by the governor and chief minister, has notified the charter of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC).

The CPLC chief, Sharfuddin Memon, and his team thanked the governor and CM for their support in giving strength to the institution which has been extending help and assistance to the victims of crime irrespective of their caste, creed or status.

The CPLC charter has been notified after a delay of 14 years. It had been established in 1989, during the tenure of governor Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim who had assented the idea of creating an institution which could maintain a permanent liaison between police and general public to ensure a prompt and certain redressal of citizens’ grievances.

According to sources, the former governor had nominated Mr Nazim F. Haji as chief of the CPLC and Mr Jamil Yusuf as its joint chief. Certain other people were also nominated as members of the committee.

Nomination of Mr Nazim F. Haji was denotified by the home department when he relinquished the post in 1996. He was succeeded by Mr Jamil Yusuf who headed the CPLC till April this year.

The CPLC charger, according to the sources, had reportedly been approved by another former governor, Mr Kamal Azfar, but could not be notified for some reasons. His successor Moinuddin Haider constituted the CPLC’s first Advisory Council as per the suggestion by Mr Yusuf. The council held its meeting at the Governor House which was attended by chief minister and chief secretary also. In those days also, the CPLC charter could not be notified. However, Mr Yusuf’s tenure as CPLC chief was extended for an indefinite period.

No meeting of the Advisory Council was convened during the tenure of the governor Mohammadmian Soomro, who had succeeded Moinuddin Haider. But before completing his term, Mr Soomro got the Council reconstituted. He also reportedly authorized the home department to issue a notification in order to provide the CPLC a legal cover and status.

The matter, however, remained pending due to the ensuing general elections in the country and inception of an elected government. Accordingly, the new Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, got the appointment of Mr Yusuf denotified and Mr Sharfuddin Memon took over as the new CPLC chief.