May 17, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1428

QUETTA, May 16: The chairman of the National Public Safety Commission (NPSC), Lt.Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider, has said that the commission has taken serious notice of the failure of police to stop violence in Karachi on May 12 and was urging the Sindh government to carry out a probe into security lapses.

He was addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. The Director-General of National Police Bureau, Dr Shoaib Suddle, provincial Police Officer Tariq Masood Khosa and other members of the commission were also present on the occasion.

Answering a question about the tragic incidents in Karachi, Mr Haider said that there were certain security lapses, “otherwise the loss of human lives could be avoided.” He said it was being pointed out to the government police failed to provide security to the people.

Gen Haider said that people responsible for the Karachi carnage would be brought to book once the investigation was completed.

He said that reforms have been introduced in the police force to make it people friendly.

He mentioned that the main function of his commission was to address complaints of the masses against police.

About police reforms, he said that 23 of the 29 districts had been converted into police areas, which, according to him, was a major achievement of the government. He said that Rs10 billion was being spent on the establishment of the Balochistan Constabulary and providing facilities to police in Balochistan.

He said the new force with 10,000 personnel would help maintain law and order in the province.

He said that after converting the ‘Levies area’ into ‘police area’ in Balochistan, the federal government would be asked to provide funds needed by the province for meeting additional cost of setting up a new force.

He said that IGP Tariq Masood Khosa had briefed the commission on the law and order situation in Balochistan. The commission, he said, was of the opinion that the situation was improving in the province. Mr Haider said that Balochistan was the first province where the provincial Public Safety Commission had been established. He said the chief minister had assured the commission that his government would provide facilities for the proper working of the provincial commission.