KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed satisfaction over the progress of implementation of the National Action Plan in Sindh, saying it has helped purge the province of terrorism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and targeted killing and resulted in visible improvement in law and order. However, he said the prosecution side needed much more attention.

The chief minister stated this while presiding over a meeting here on Monday to review the progress of implementation of Apex Committee decisions before proceeding to attend a NAP meeting which will be held in Islamabad, to be presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday.

The chief minister also held an important meeting with Corps Commander of Karachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar here at CM House. Being member of the Apex Committee the corps commander and the chief minister in their one-on-one meeting discussed the overall security related issues to be discussed at the NAP meeting.

Earlier at the review meeting, which was attended by Adviser to the CM on law Murtaza Wahab, Adviser to the CM on Information Maula Bux Chandio, chief secretary Siddique Memon, IGP A.D. Khwaja, advocate general Zameer Ghumro, home secretary Riaz Soomro and the law secretary, the chief minister said his government besides striving hard to implement NAP to rid the province of terrorism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom and targeted killing, was also working to enhance the capacity of the Sindh police by imparting them with training and equipping them with the latest gadgets and weapons.

Madressah registration issue to be taken up at Islamabad meeting today: Murad

The chief minister, who was apprised by the IGP of closing of 2,309 madressahs, said he would take up the issue of madressah registration at the NAP meeting as there should be a national consensus on it.

Sindh IGP A.D. Khwaja said the Sindh police had established an anti-terrorism financing unit under the SSP-Intelligence of the CTD and so far registered seven cases of terror financing, of them six had been charge-sheeted in court and three others had been decided.

Meeting with Shia ulema

The chief minister, who also presided over a meeting with Shia ulema, reiterated that the maintenance of peace and law and order during Muharram was his top priority. Therefore, he had held a number of meetings with ulema of different schools of thought to develop consensus to implement a code of conduct worked out in consultation with religious scholars and the government.

At the meeting, which was attended by Dr Qayoom Soomro, IGP, additional IGP Dr Sanaullah Abbasi, home secretary Riaz Hussain Soomro, Allama Abbas Kumeli, Allama Ali Akbar Naqvi, Allama Maqsood Domki, Shabbar Raza, Jafer Turani and others, the ulema raised some issues such as prolonged loadshedding, dilapidated roads, water shortage and overflowing gutters, NOCs for new processions, and taking out names of some of their religious scholars from the Fourth schedule.

The chief minister gave assurance to them that during his visit to Islamabad on Tuesday he would take up the issue of loadshedding with the federal minister for water and power to exempt the cities and towns from loadshedding till Ashura. “I am sure it would be done,” he remarked. He also said that he had directed the commissioner of Karachi to hold a meeting with the water board and ensure provision of water to the majalis areas and clear chocked gutters.

He said permission for new mourners processions could not be granted this Muharram but from next Muharram they would be accommodated. Talking about loudspeaker use, the chief minister said there was no ban on using loudspeakers when a Zakir delivered his khutba but playing a recorded speech on a tape recorder was not allowed.

The ulema assured the chief minister of their support and cooperation.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2016