09 January 2004	Friday	16 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 8: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has given seven days time to all the TPOs and SHOs to remove gambling, drug and prostitution dens and check the sale of raw liquor and screening of obscene films in mini cinema houses.

The governor was addressing the TPOs at the governor's house. Advisor to Chief Minister for Home Affairs, Aftab Shaikh, Provincial Police Officer Syed Kamal Shah, Secretary Home Syed Anwar Hyder, the Capital City Police Officer and the DIG Operation were also present at the meeting.

The governor asked the IGP to work out the modalities for action against vice dens during the next seven days. "No excuse of any resource limitations will be acceptable in this respect", the governor said and added that if gambling and other vices continued, it would affect our youth and it would be criminal negligence not to eliminate them.

Dr Ibad said the common impression was that such crimes could not take place without the connivance of the area SHO, or if these were uncontrolled, that showed the inefficiency of police officials concerned.

Noting that road checking of vehicles by police unnecessarily inconvenienced people and was mainly used to extort money, he said the practice should be done away with and instead communities and notables of respective areas should be involved for attainment of the desired results.

The governor also noted that car-snatching and car-lifting incidents had registered a rise, particularly in Gulshan-i-Iqbal around Disco Bakery. He directed that crime cards be maintained at police stations and night patrolling be further intensified. "The police department may be facing resource limitations, but they should work with whatever resources are available and produce admirable results," the governor said and added that improved performance could make people see police in a favourable light and understand the problems facing the department.

He stressed that due care in respect of food and other necessities should be taken of police personnel put on deployment for long-hour duties. He said police must take steps to check wall-chalking, particularly on main roads.

Observing that encroachments were taking place in various areas of the city, particularly in Surjani Town, Bin Qasim, Pakistan Steel and Gulzar-e-Hijri areas, he said SHOs would be held responsible for encroachments as the crime was not possible without their approval. He called for additional check-posts in areas where encroachments abound. He also suggested creation of vigil forces to check encroachments.

The governor mentioned complaints of police misbehaviour with women and children during raids to arrest criminals and told police to better their ways in that regard. He emphasised that stronger community policing would bring better results. He further said the practice of arresting people illegally and then letting them off on receipt of money from them must end.

"Some SHOs lack the required knowledge and their I.Q level is not up to the mark. The approach and the application of the mind should be important aspects for consideration in the posting of SHOs," he said and called for an end to the "Safarish" culture.

Governor Ibad made it clear that he would personally see to it that action was being taken in the areas pointed out by him. Mr Aftab Shaikh, on the occasion, assured that a working plan for action would be given by the IGP and the DIG. "However, it will be for police to discharge their responsibilities in a manner that brings a good name to their department," he said.

The TPOs apprised the governor of the problems coming in the way of their professional responsibilities. The governor asked the IGP to hold a meeting to discuss those problems with particular reference to the legalities involved.-APP