KARACHI: The Sindh Apex Committee expressed concern on Sunday over low conviction rate of criminals and formed a committee comprising the provincial chief secretary and prosecutor general to seek judiciary’s help in setting up a special bench of the Sindh High Court for summary trials, it is reliably learnt.

Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister House after a meeting of the apex committee, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the civil and military leaders were on the same page on the issue of eliminating terrorism and a task force headed by the home secretary and comprising representatives of police and Rangers had been formed to ensure implementation of decisions taken by the apex committee.

The meeting presided over by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was attended by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Rangers Director General Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, Sharjeel Memon, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial, Chief Secretary Mohammad Siddique Memon, Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, FIA Director Shahid Hayat, Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro and officials of law-enforcement agencies.

The information minister said it was a constitutional requirement to get approval of the provincial assembly for extending deployment and increasing powers of Rangers. The PPP has a majority in the assembly and, therefore, approval would not be an issue.

Civil and military leaders on same page, says minister

Answering a question, he said the issue of Rangers’ reservations was not discussed.

The meeting discussed the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi and implementation of the National Action Plan and the participants praised police and Rangers for effectively maintaining law and order in the province.

The apex committee decided to take severe action against banned organisations and expedite the pace of crackdown on the religious seminaries involved in recruiting their students to the rank of terrorists and inciting them to carry out terrorist activities.

The meeting vowed to continue the operation against terrorists and their financiers and facilitators till their complete elimination.

The committee praised police for killing notorious dacoit Nazro Narejo and paid tribute to the two policemen who had lost their lives during the operation against robbers and outlaws.

In reply to a question, Mr Memon said no-one would be allowed to forcibly collect Fitra and stern action would be taken against those found involved in it. He claimed that the crime rate in Sindh was lower than in other provinces and efforts were being made to further improve the situation. The government has a policy of “zero tolerance” against terrorism.

Answering a question about the Rangers’ raid on the MQM headquarters Nine Zero in March, the minister said the paramilitary force could carry out raids anywhere on information about the presence of terrorists and for such actions it needed no “prior written permission”. Some people were arrested from Nine Zero, including the killer of journalist Wali Babar.

According to informed sources, the apex committee decided to provide armoured personnel carriers (APC) to the Sindh police soon and for the purpose the Corps Commander and the IG would take steps needed for their early delivery.

According to the sources, the IG informed the meeting that because of lack of the APC “our two policemen were martyred during the encounter with dacoit Nazro Narejo and his men”.

The meeting decided to immediately shift the CPLC office from the Governor’s House and to reorganise it after Eid. Officials of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority would visit Rawalpindi after Eid to assess the working of 1122 Service and immediately start such a service in Karachi and other cities of Sindh.

The meeting expressed concern over the release of accused on bail because of weak prosecution and stressed the need for strengthening the prosecution department.

The meeting was informed that a requisition had already been sent to the Sindh Public Service Commission for recruitment of prosecutors.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary that if the commission delayed the recruitment because of procedural matters a special committee be constituted for the purpose after Eid.

The apex committee, according to the sources, asked the Sindh IG to set up a special investigation cell to review the cases of arrested accused on a regular basis. The prosecutor general’s office was also asked to hold fortnightly meetings to review the cases.

The meeting decided to evolve a mechanism in consultations with banks and other financial institutions to curb the financing of terrorist organisations.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2015

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