KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Monday gave approval to a proposal for the appointment of 1,000 ex-soldiers in addition to the proposed induction of 10,000 police officials during the current financial year.

The chief minister, who presided over two meetings on law and order within 24 hours, directed the police chief to complete the procurement process of 5,000 bullet-proof jackets and 100 bullet-proof mobile vans at the earliest. He also asked him to file PC-I for the establishment of a DNA lab in Karachi.

Besides, he told the home department to submit a proposal for having four to five anti-terrorism courts specifically to try cases pertaining to the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.

A directive was also issued to make arrangements for the trial of high-profile cases out of the city.

The chief minister appreciated efforts of law-enforcers to bring down crime rate.

However, he said, conviction rate of the suspects being held was unsatisfactory due to lack of coordination between the prosecution branch and investigation wing of police.

He called for a close liaison between the prosecution and investigation wings and asked the DIG concerned to ensure that the challans presented in courts are in order with proper evidences so that conviction rate could be increased.

Simultaneously, he said, the Sindh government had been working for institutional development and capacity building of police on modern lines, enabling them to meet present and future security challenges.

He said 10,000 police officials and 2,000 ex-soldiers were recruited during the past financial year and the government was going to recruit 10,000 more police officials and 1,000 ex-soldiers this financial year.

Referring to the ongoing protest by PTI workers, he asked the officers concerned not to stop the peaceful protest, demonstrate tolerance and deal with them in such a way that neither party should be disturbed.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2014