KARACHI, Sept 15: The opposition in the Sindh Assembly on Monday cautioned the government against a much alarming law and order situation that was evolving in the form of public agitation against the government’s policies on Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal projects.

This was one of the points raised during a debate on law and order in the province with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair. In his brief absence, the session was chaired by Dr Mehreen Bhutto of PPP Parliamentarians.

Initiating the debate, Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad claimed that the provincial government had neither indulged in political victimization for securing political benefits, nor would it do so in future.

He presented statistics pertaining to police strength, different types of crime and expenditure. He said that total annual outlay in 2002-03 was Rs8,083 million and in 2003-04 it was Rs7,970 million. About Rs400 million had been spent on the Rangers and Frontier Constabulary for maintaining law and order.

Out of the total allocation, the CCPO Karachi got Rs2,029 million in 2002-03 and Rs2,266 million in 2003-04. The minister also gave a break-up of the figures pertaining to other places of the province.

In Karachi region, the police strength is 21,752 out of which 7,000 personnel perform protocol duties, thus creating serious void in the capacity to maintain law and order, he said.

The other point raised in the House was growing incidents of lifting and snatching of vehicles. The House was informed that an increase was recorded till August. During this period 3,725 motorcycles and 2,347 cars were snatched.

The minister also gave a break-up of other crimes, including kidnapping for ransom. He said that 30 ring-leaders of terrorist gangs were arrested and 56 cases were registered against such elements.

The House was also informed that in Sanghar and Shikarpur districts, functions of operation and investigation had been placed under DPOs. The results would be analyzed after Sept 30. After that, it would be decided whether the old system should be retained or a new experiment be conducted.

The provincial government has requested the Centre to amend sections 300 and 302 PPC so as to include specifically Karo-kari cases. Police have already been instructed to register such cases under section300 and 302 PPC. So far as the other laws discriminatory against women are concerned, the government has already issued an ordinance in August 2000 under which the National Commission on the Status of Women has been constituted.

The federal government, it is hoped, would take appropriate action on the recommendation of the Commission, the minister said.

Syed Sardar Ahmad acknowledged that there was a little improvement in the behaviour of the subordinate officers. About the constitution of Public Safety Commission, the minister informed the House that nine DPSCs had already been constituted and the rest were under process.

He pointed out that Police Complaint Authority had also been constituted and its chairman was being provided an office and administrative support.

Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman of PPP described the government’s statement on law and order as ‘stereotype’. He warned that if the government decided to go ahead with the GTC and Kalabagh Dam projects, a much bigger law and order problem could emerge. He referred to the outrage by the people of Sindh against the projects and warned that it would not be possible for police, paramilitary forces or even the army to control such a situation where masses would take to streets.

He accused the government of propping up MRD-like popular movement on the canal and dam issue. He said that all measure enunciated by the senior minister for improving law and order situation and ensuring security to the common man would blow away in the face of mounting wrath of the people of Sindh who considered these projects detrimental to their survival.

He asked the government to take serious notice of the evolving situation.

Dr Hameeda Khuhro observed that Karachi had become the most dangerous city and complained that lawlessness and drugs were being injected in our society from Afghanistan. She was critical of offences against women. She also called for appropriate measures to root out corruption from police department.

Deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Nasrullah Shaji said that killers of Hakim Said, Khalid bin Walid, Raziq Khan and Pasha Gul were still not brought to book whereas in Daniel Pearl case, arrests had been made and 66 people including the prime suspect had been handed over to the FBI after labelling them as Al Qaeda men.

Qamar Mansoor of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement complained of ‘murder of merit’ and claimed that the police officials involved in extrajudicial killings were being decorated. He, however, supported the move to induct MPAs into the Public Safety Commission.

Begum Gulzar Unnar held growing unemployment responsible for the law and order problem and demanded that 24 per cent jobs in the federal departments functioning in Sindh be reserved for the people of this province. She also called for action against drug pushers and demanded that new kutchi abadis should be demolished.

Heer Ismail Rahoo was of the view that feudalism and unemployment were responsible for the law and order problem. She said that as long as people would be implicated in fake cases, law and order would not improve.

Fariha Razzaq Haroon said that 317 cases of karo-kari had been reported but police did not arrest the culprits. She called for framing laws to deal with such cases. She also called for reviewing Hudood laws under which a lot of women were languishing in prison. She said that last year, 900 people had been kidnapped but no one knew as to how many of them had been recovered.

Mr Punjomal said that kidnapping for ransom had become a trade in which, he alleged, even ministers were involved. He claimed that Hindu girls were being converted after being kidnapped but no one raised voice. He claimed that owing to this situation, girls belonging to minority community were not going to schools.

Zahid Bhurgari said that owing to the law of jungle established by the government, investment was not coming in. He also criticized inability of the police and other security agencies in apprehending the culprits involved in the bomb explosions in Hyderabad. “For what a huge amount is being spent on the police, rangers and FC when they cannot arrest criminals and when police stations are being auctioned?”

Faisal Sabzwari called for law-making to curb crime and lawlessness. He also called for an increase in the wages and facilities for police.

As the debate was continuing, the Speaker adjourned the session till Tuesday.