HYDERABAD, July 12: Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui has directed the police to prepare foolproof security plan to maintain the law and order during the local body elections. He was speaking at a meeting at the circuit house here on Monday. He said maintenance of the law and order with provision of justice to each candidate and voter would be the main duty of police.

He called upon personnel of law-enforcement agencies not to surrender to any political pressure from any side.

He said if any police official was found indulging in irregularities, he would not be spared.

Referring to the complaints of people, the minister directed the senior police officials to introduce monitoring system to check the activities of police personnel upto the SHO level to ensure the supremacy of law and protect the self-respect and honour of every one.

He said the exercise would not only restore the confidence of the people but also pave the way for police-public coordination and community participation in eliminating the crime from the society.

He said the incidents of mobile phone snatching were on the increase and must be curbed and sale of snatched phones in the market must be checked.

He said intelligence agencies be strengthened and activated to detect the criminals before they attempt any terrorist act.

The minister said the government was giving top priority to the law and order situation as such Rs1 billion had been earmarked by the federal government to strengthen and equip the Sindh police.

He said the government was considering the pay structure of the Sindh police and would like to bring it at par with the Punjab police.

He warned the police officials to avoid misuse of their vehicles and other facilities.

DIG Mazhar Shaikh said the regional police had prepared a contingency plan to maintain the law and order during the elections.

He said about 2000 additional police force in the first phase and 1000 force in the second phase with 432 vehicles were needed to meet the requirements of the plan.

The minister held meeting with a delegation of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president Mr Mehmood Ahmed.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Siddiqui said confidence of investors had been restored and heavy investment was being made in the province due to maintenance of the law and order.

He called upon the business community to expedite the process of investment to eradicate unemployment.