KARACHI, June 4: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday ordered law-enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on those involved in targeted killings and extortion and take all necessary measures to provide protection and security to people, particularly the business community.

Chairing a meeting to review the law and order situation, he asked senior police officers to work with renewed zeal to restore law and order to the province with the special focus on Karachi.He said that there would be no political interference in the transfer and postings of police officers and the inspector general of police had been given a free hand in making all decisions on merit. “I need positive results as early as possible,” he added.

He formed a four-member committee headed by the additional chief secretary (home) to review the Police Act of 1861 — in force across the province — and the Police Order of 2002.

Mr Shah directed the committee to present its report within 15 days.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over the preparedness of the police to meet challenges in the light of his recent surprise visits to the Mithadar and Kharadar police stations.

Referring to his visit to the Liaquatabad police station, he said that he noticed that FIRs of different crimes were lodged after a lapse of many months and then sent to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for investigations.

He said that the SIU was not supposed to investigate crimes like theft or mugging.

The CM said that there seemed to be some bottlenecks in the investigations of many cases and, if needed, legislation would be done.

Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, MPA Owais Muzzafar, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Wasim Ahmed, IGP Sindh Shahid Nadeem Baloch and other officials also attended the meeting.

Visit to Sindh Secretariat

The CM also paid a surprise visit to the New Sindh Secretariat and Tughlaq House in the morning and took round of the different departments, including food, works & services, health, and found that the secretaries concerned were not present in their offices.

He discussed at length financial matters and the annual development programme with the additional chief secretary (planning & development), Arif Ahmed Khan, and inquired about the details of allocated funds to different administrative departments.

Mr Khan and other officials concerned briefed the CM.

The CM directed the chief secretary to ensure the punctuality of the officers and staff and taking strict action against those absent from duty.

He said that he would continue to pay surprise visits of various government offices and would review the performance of the officers personally.

“Any negligence by any officer in solving of public grievance will not be tolerated and strict action will be initiated against them,” he warned.

While visiting the office of the services secretary, the CM asked him to immediately provide a report about appointments in various departments during the caretaker government so that these appointments would be reviewed.

Talking to the media, the CM said that the purpose of his surprise visit was to check the attendance and to know that public problems were being solved or not.

He added that some secretaries and deputy secretaries were absent and they would be asked to explain their position.

In reply to a question, he said that to provide better transport facilities to the people of Karachi 200 new buses would be provided initially and new buses will be provided to other areas of the province.

He added that buses being plied on Karachi roads were in poor condition and public was facing hardships.