KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday warned that strict action would be taken against those police officials involved in infamous practice of “full-fry and half-fry” — a police code word for ‘killing’ or ‘seriously wounding’ a suspect in a so-called encounter.

Furnishing a statement on human rights during Question Hour in the Sindh Assembly, he assured the house that police could never be allowed to indulge in such illegal practice at any cost.

“Courts are there to punish the culprits,” he said, adding that the law enforcement personnel could not act as judges.

Jailed MPA says ‘half-fry’ is a police code word for shooting suspects in the leg in fake encounters

Interned leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party Sharjeel Memon alleged that he had met many prisoners in jail who were “half fried”, elaborating that the people were picked up and shot in the leg in fake encounters.

“This should not have been done as there is a proper judicial system in the country,” he added.

The chief minister said that he would definitely look into the matter and take action against the responsible persons under the law.

He said that extrajudicial incidents were not acceptable as the courts were there to punish the criminals.

Mr Shah made it clear that such actions against unarmed persons would not be tolerated.

Sindh takes no loan from Centre after 2003-4

Replying to another question, Mr Shah said that the provincial government had taken from the federal government 23 cash development loans (CDL) amounting to Rs14.3 billion for a period of 25 years.

He added that the interest rate varied from 7.42 per cent to 17.71pc per annum for a period of 25 years, including five years grace period.

Replying to a supplementary question, Mr Shah said that the last CDL was taken in 2003-04 and after that no loan had been taken from the federal government.

He said that the provincial government did not take loans from commercial banks.

“Yes, the provincial government takes Overdraft (OD) from the State Bank of Pakistan when it falls short of funds,” he said and added the last OD was taken by the caretaker government in 2018.

He also clarified that there was no outstanding borrowing from the SBP from Sept 2016 to Sept 2018.

To another question, Mr Shah said that everyone had the right to education, which was free at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.

He added that the human rights department had been working on “rights of education” and had close link with the education department to strengthen the mechanism of recruitment system on merit, ensure attendance of teachers.

31 HR complaints against Sindh police

The CM said that the human rights department through its toll-free helpline had received 31 complaints of human rights violation against Sindh police.

“Twenty complaints were received in 2015, eight in 2016, one in 2017 and two in 2018. The public grievances were redressed accordingly,” he stated.

Talking about human rights violation cases recorded through print media, he said during last four years 4,326 cases were registered which include 757 in 2015; 1,704 in 2016; 1,352 in 2017; and 513 in 2018.

He also added that 397 cases were registered through toll-free helpline number, including 109 in 2014; 89 in 2015; 107 in 2016; 30 in 2017 and nine in 2018.

Mr Shah, who also holds the portfolio of minister for human rights, said that between 2015 and 2018 some 158 complaints of human rights violations were also received and resolved accordingly.

“The human rights department also addresses different cases of karo-kari [honour killing], rape, murder, domestic violence and acid throwing,” he said and added he was further strengthening the department to upheld human rights.

He informed the house that literature on different topics such as human rights, rights of women, rights of orphans, our rights and responsibilities, zakat, Haqooq-ul-Allah and Huqooq-ul-Ebad, Islamic brotherhood, human community and education for women had been distributed among 4,806 pesh imams (prayer leaders) for their information and to include the topics in their Friday sermons.

He said that the human rights department had taken measures to provide several means for redressal of complaints and a toll-free number, 0800-00011, was being operated round the clock.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2018