KARACHI: A counterterrorism cell having representation of all intelligence agencies has started functioning in the corps headquarters, while there are plans afoot to have surveillance through static balloons and to begin registration of seminaries.

The measures were taken by the government in the light of the directives given by the chief minister following the May 14 special apex committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

The progress was shared with the chief minister at a meeting on law and order that he chaired on Tuesday. The meeting, which was held at CM House, was attended among others by ministers Suhail Anwar Siyal, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr Sinkadar Mandhro, chief secretary Siddique Memon, principal secretary to the CM Alamuddin Bullo, home secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, Secretary Katchi Abadis Dr Nawaz Shaikh, IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali and Additional IG Ghulam Qadir Thebo.While reviewing overall implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) decisions and progress, the chief minister directed the home secretary to expedite setting up of the crisis control management unit in Karachi on the pattern of Punjab’s Rescue 1122. The secretary informed him that the provincial disaster management authority recently sent a team to Rawalpindi to study the rescue service so that it could be replicated here.

The decision to establish Rescue 1122 had been taken in view of the Safoora Goth tragedy where rescue operation could not be undertaken in time.

Referring to the air surveillance system, the chief minister directed the home secretary that a detailed presentation be given to him about the static balloon camera surveillance system before the placement of an order.

He also asked the chief secretary and home secretary to hold a comprehensive meeting with the people belonging to the Ismaili, Bohra communities as well as non-Muslim communities to listen to their security concerns and guide them. “I want you to work out a detailed security plan to avoid soft targets onwards,” he said.

The Sindh police chief informed the meeting that he had sent a list of urgently required gadgets to the GHQ. He said that in response to the letter, the Sindh police had received 500 rifles while the demand of other equipment was still under consideration.

Ghotki operation

IG Jamali said the Ghotki operation had been completed with the arrest of three dacoits and the killing of 11 bandits belonging to the Shar and Shaikh tribes. He said the dacoits from Punjab, who had penetrated deep into the kutcha area, fled during the operation. “Pakistan Rangers extended full cooperation to the police to make the operation meaningful,” he said.

Taking a policy decision, the chief minister informed the meeting that 2,500 acres of forest land recovered from the dacoits in Ghotki would be given to local landless peasants. He directed the chief secretary to work out a proposal to ensure that dacoits never return to the area.

When the chief secretary was asked if he had sent a team of experts to visit the Heavy Mechanical Complex in Taxila to procure locally built armoured personnel carriers, he said he along with the police chief were working out specifications of the APCs. A team would shortly be dispatched, he added.

About the registration of madressahs, the home secretary said that the Sindh government had proposed legislation for the registration process but when the federal government prepared a proforma, the home department gave its input.

Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said a column be included in the proforma for the donors who provided their land for the construction of a seminary so that they could be bound to seek a no-objection certificate from the home department before donating the land.

The chief minister directed the home secretary to remain in contact with the federal government and expedite the process so that registration work could be started at the earliest. “This would help to introduce madressah reforms programme,” he said.

About the operation against banned sectarian outfits, the home secretary said a list of 61 banned organisations had been shared with the police and the Rangers for taking necessary action against them and to keep an eye on their activities.

The police chief said the law enforcement agencies had already launched a crackdown against the banned organisations.

The home secretary said the Federal Investigation Agency had been invited to send one of their directors to the provincial apex committee meetings so that funding to terrorists organisations could be stopped.

In reply to a question of the chief minister, the home secretary said that they were making necessary arrangements to shift the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee from Governor House to the police headquarters.

Sindh Kutchi Abadis Secretary Dr Nawaz Shaikh said of the 1,409 kutchi abadis across Sindh, 564 were in Karachi. The Sindh Kutchi Abadis Authority dealt with the ones which were established before March 1985, while those established afterwards did not fall within their ambit.

The chief minister said the kutchi abadis should be regularised on a merit basis. He directed the chief secretary to hold a meeting with builders association, ABAD, and seek a proposal for developing the kutchi abadis. “I want you to improve their living by providing them basic facilities there,” he said.

He explained that the katchi abadis, as reported to him by intelligence agencies, were source of criminal and terror activities. Therefore, a proper vigilance framework be evolved for such areas, he said.

When informed about 80 per cent completion of computerization of revenue record (land record), the chief minister said the move would not only help in clearly demarcation of government and private lands but also in curbing encroachment.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015

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