KARACHI: Almost a week after Dr Asim Hussain’s arrest, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah lodged a protest with the Karachi corps commander on Tuesday against the detention of the chairman of the provincial Higher Education Commission over suspicions of his involvement in terror financing.

During a meeting with Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar here at CM House, Mr Shah expressed his serious concerns over the manner in which Dr Asim, also a member of his cabinet, was taken into custody.

A brief statement issued from CM House said that the corps commander held a meeting with the chief minister where they discussed issues pertaining to the targeted operation and reviewed the overall law and order situation and the progress of the implementation of the decisions of the Sindh apex committee.

However, well-placed sources said that the chief minister was perturbed over the allegation that Dr Asim was financing some terrorist groups and he told the corps commander that the ‘proof’ shown to him by the Rangers’ chief in this regard was insufficient.

Mr Shah went on to say that such allegations against a Pakistan Peoples Party leader would create a negative impression of the Karachi operation.

The meeting, which was held to discuss the overall security situation in the province, remained focussed on the recent actions taken by Rangers and the Federal Investigation Agency.

The sources said that the CM mentioned the Sindh government’s concern about what he called overstepping of the federal agencies, particularly Rangers and FIA, in the provincial affairs.

He recalled that the prime minister and the interior minister had promised that the Sindh government would be taken into confidence before any arrest. He complained that the commitment was not honoured by the federal agencies when they arrested former federal minister Dr Asim.

The chief minister also pointed out that over 40 cases of terrorism were referred to the interior ministry but only three of them were so far referred to the military courts for trial.

The CM and the corps commander also discussed the progress of implementation of the decisions of the apex committee pertaining to registration of seminaries, strengthening the prosecution branch and installation of CCTV cameras on vintage points and linking them with a central command control system.

Meanwhile, the corps commander also called on Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at Governor House and discussed with him the security situation in the province.

Bilawal briefed on rehabilitation of flood-hit people

The CM called on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Bilawal House on Tuesday.

He briefed his party chief on the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people, party affairs and the upcoming local government elections.

He told the PPP chairman that all available resources were being used to ensure maximum relief for the flood-hit people.

Referring to the preparations for the LG elections, Mr Shah said likeminded parties were being consulted to field joint candidates.

The chief minister also briefed the PPP chairman on the law and order situation.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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