KARACHI: Ten more anti-terrorism courts are set to start functioning in the city, as the Sindh government and the military expressed resolve on Tuesday to “continue the Karachi operation till the arrest of the last terrorist”, according to a provincial cabinet member.

The authorities took some major decisions on security matters, including the setting up of separate forces for the protection of witnesses in high-profile cases and the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Sindh apex committee, which was chaired by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and attended by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, provincial ministers, Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Pakistan Rangers Sindh Director General Maj Gen Bilal Akbar and senior intelligence and police officers. The “two sides” agreed on all points, which negated a perception about differences between state institutions, the Chief Minister’s Information Adviser Maula Bux Chandio told journalists at CM House.

Apex committee decides to set up separate forces for witness protection and CPEC security

“Some people had a strong desire to see a kind of clash between the institutions but today’s meeting proved that there is complete understanding, coordination and harmony among them,” he said.

He said the meeting discussed several issues and reached some decisions unanimously.

“Among them is the establishment of some 10 ATCs in Karachi which will start functioning soon.

“The corps commander has assured [the Sindh government] to provide space for these courts,” he added.

About 25 cases, he said, had been shortlisted for trial in the courts.

The murder case of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro was one of them, he said, but the government had to put it on hold after the Sukkur bench of the Sindh High Court issued a stay order while hearing a petition related to it.

“Another major decision taken at the committee’s meeting is setting up two new security forces,” said Mr Chandio.

“One of them, comprising 200 personnel, will be tasked with the security of witnesses in high-profile cases under the witness protection programme. Safe houses for the security of witnesses will also be set up. The other force will have 2,000 trained personnel for security of the CPEC,” he said.

He said the apex committee had a detailed discussion on the jails and prosecution system.

It was decided that recruitment or postings related to jails operation would be made only after consultation with intelligence agencies, he said, adding that the criteria for appointment of prosecutors would be improved.

The adviser was full of praise for the army and the corps commander who, he said, had assured the government of cooperation for all its initiatives, including the proposed census that, according to him, was a “quite sensitive and crucial subject”.

In reply to a question about the recent arrest of top employees of a capital market giant by the Federal Investigation Agency for causing a loss of over Rs250 million to the exchequer while manoeuvring with the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), Mr Chandio said: “A committee is being set up to look into the AKD Securities issue. We regard traders and business community a lot, as their contributions cannot be denied. Recently the business community showed its concern on the issue and we had arranged their meeting with FIA officials. The government has decided to set up a committee to look into the subject so that they do not feel any kind of injustice towards themselves.”

When the adviser was asked about a recently-proposed plan for regulation of Friday sermons in mosques, he said that after several suggestions, the government was moving towards a proper legislation. “When we introduced the Loudspeaker Act, everyone was questioning the enforcement of such a law. But now you can see that it’s being enforced effectively and there is no use of loudspeakers in mosques apart, except for Azans. We believe the same will be the result of the Friday sermons regulation and one should not be worried about the enforcement of this law.”

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2016