KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the suspects involved in the October 31 Daraza Sharif (Khairpur district) firing have been arrested and the provincial government has urged the Sindh High Court to order a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Speaking to the media after laying the foundation stone of the Rs750 million Korangi Crossing Flyover project here on Thursday, Mr Shah said that keeping in view the killings that occurred on polling day in Daraza Sharif, all precautionary measures had been taken to maintain law and order during the second phase of the local government elections. “We have no objection if army troops are deployed at the polling stations declared ‘most sensitive’ to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order,” he said.

Twelve people, most of them Pakistan Muslim League-Functional activists, were killed in the firing incident at a polling station in Khairpur on October 31.

“All necessary security arrangements have been made in the 15 districts of three divisions for the forthcoming local bodies elections. Only two districts, Sanghar and Badin, declared ‘most sensitive’ while a few UCs in the remaining 13 districts are regarded as ‘sensitive’,” he said.

Mr Shah said that a plan to deploy police and Rangers troops had already been chalked out.

In reply to a question regarding suspects of Daraza firing, the chief minister said that he had spoken to [PML-F chief and spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat] Pir Pagara about action to be taken against the culprits. “We also discussed precautionary measures taken for the peaceful holding of the local bodies elections in the next phases, particularly in Sanghar district,” he said, adding: “I am sure, Pir Pagara is satisfied [with the measures].”

About the Korangi Crossing Flyover, the chief minister said that it would have two levels each having a length of 408 metres and would be completed within 12 months. “The local government minister is working hard and will be monitoring the progress of work personally on a day to day basis,” he said, and hoped that the facility would greatly benefit the people of Korangi and its industrial zone.

Mr Shah was accompanying Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah and Principal Secretary to the CM Alamuddin Bullo.

Karachi Administrator Sajjad Abbasi, Municipal Commissioner Sami Siddiqui and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2015

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