KARACHI, Oct 7: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Tuesday ordered the law enforcement agencies to take especial measures for protecting life and property of the people in the province and seek support of religious leaders in this regard.

He was presiding over a meeting at the Governor’s House, which was held to review the prevailing law and order situation in the province.

The governor directed the officials to watch the anti-social elements in view of the present scenario, so that terrorists could not take advantage of the situation.

He expressed the hope that the people would co-operate with the government in weeding out anti-social elements and maintaining peace and harmony in the province.

Mr Ibad called for further strengthening of intelligence network and its effective co-ordination with the law enforcement agencies.

He directed the agencies to employ their best skills for arresting the terrorists involved in recent incidents, so that they could be brought to justice.

Home Secretary, DG Rangers, Police and other concerned authorities briefed the governor about the latest law and order situation and steps being taken to eliminate terrorists.

City Police Chief Asad Ashraf Malik, giving a detailed account of the performance of Karachi Police, said that six major gangs of terrorists had been busted, while 13 sectarian gangs had been brought to book.

As many as 109 sectarian and terrorist criminals had been arrested, of which 37 terrorists and hardened criminals had been awarded capital punishment and life imprisonment, he added.

He stated that high profile cases of Denial Pearl’s kidnapping and murder, Sheraton Hotel bomb blast, which killed a number of French engineers, bomb blast near US Consulate, murder of Saleem Qadri, Chairman Sunni Tehrik, of Dr Raza Mehdi, of Dr Ale Safdar Zaidi, of Anwar Ali Termizi, of Syed Ali Hussain Naqvi, of Syed Nazar Abbass and Muzafar Ali Kirmani, murder of nine persons in Imambargah Muntazar-ul-Mehdi and murder of two Iranians at Subhanullah Bakery, had been successfully worked out and investigation in other cases was in progress.

He said that 15 police officers embraced martyrdom while combating terrorism in 146 encounters, killing 35 criminals.

Advisor on Home affairs, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakil Kazi, DG Rangers, Maj Gen Salahuddin Seti, Additional Advocate General, Qazi Khalid, Home Secretary, Anwar Haider, Principal Secretary, Brig Akhtar Zamin, and other senior police officials attended the meeting.—PPI