KARACHI, March 15: The Sindh government has spent Rs15,943,229 for deploying police and Rangers personnel and vehicles on security and protocol duty of VIPs in the metropolis during 2004 and 2005.
This was stated by Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui in a written reply to a question by Humera Alwani of the PPP-P during question hour of the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday.
Mrs Alwani had asked for details about the number of police, Rangers personnel and vehicles deputed for security and protocol purposes of high-ups, VIPs and other important personalities in the city during 2004 and 2005, along with expenses incurred by the Sindh government.
While giving details, Rauf Siddiqui said that 27,334 police vehicles and 63 vehicles of Rangers were deputed for such duties. Police incurred expenditure of Rs15,458,229 and Rs485,000 were spent on Rangers deployment.
The home minister informed the house that courts impounded 1,302 two-wheelers and 478 four-wheelers as case property in Nazarat while 2,314 two-wheelers and 882 four-wheelers were impounded under Section-550 of CrPC in Nazarat.
He affirmed that some of the impounded vehicles were being used by police personnel/law enforcing agencies officials for official duties on the order of competent authority. He said that previously commissioner or deputy commissioner used to be the competent authority for permitting the use of impounded vehicles by police personnel for official duties. However, he added, the District Coordination Officer had been the competent authority since the inception of devolution system. He said the Home Secretary too could grant the permission in this regard.
Rauf Siddiqui said that the last auction of impounded vehicles was held in November 1998 generating an amount of Rs9.718 million which was deposited in government treasury.
The house was further informed that 58 passengers were killed and 83 others were injured in the city in 99 fatal and non-fatal accidents committed by the heavy motor vehicles in Karachi during September and October 2004. He said that 4,236 cases of reckless driving were identified and Rs855,150 were collected under the fine. Almost 94 per cent drivers were arrested in such accidents, he added.
Mr Rauf Siddiqui, in response to a question by Syed Javed Hussain Shah, informed the house that Sindh police killed 16 dacoits, injured another 16 and arrested 108 during anti-criminals operation in Sukkur. He pointed out that the operation was launched by police with the help of Rangers on April 10, 2004 and within five months about 80 per cent of the kutcha area was cleared of criminals. He said the operation was still continued.
The minister claimed that general crime situation of Sukkur district was well under control. He informed that ambush parties had been formed at sub-division level under supervision of respective TPOs for apprehension of notorious criminals, proclaimed offenders and absconders besides recovery of illicit arms.
He told the questioner that no special funds were allocated for the anti-dacoit operation. He claimed that for the past 35 years this had been a ‘no go’ area and the successful operation launched in Sukkur was an achievement of the present government.
About Dr Mehreen Razzak Bhutto’s query on Khairpur jail, the minister said that actual accommodation capacity of district jail Khairpur was 526 while 801 prisoners were lodged there on July 31, 2004. He said the government was spending Rs15.534 million on dietary, sanitation, medicines (also shared through NGOs), clothing and bedding, utilities, establishment and security.
To a supplementary question, Mr Siddiqui referred to plans for expanding the capacity. He also informed the house that jail manual, which was revised in 1972 was being further revised.
Responding to Mr Hameedullah advocate’s question, Mr Siddiqui informed the house that 35 police personnel were killed in encounters with dacoits from July 2003 to June 2004.
Nasreen Chandio had raised the question of alleged gang rape of five Baagri community women in Wario Phulpoto village near Ahmedpur town; district Khairpur in July 2004. Rauf Siddiqui claimed that enquiry was conducted through local police. Baagri community had not disclosed anything about the alleged event of kidnapping or sexual assault on women of Baagri tribe in village Wario Phulpoto in Ahmedpur police jurisdiction. He said that as the Baagri community had not disclosed anything about the alleged incident, no case had been registered in this regard.
