KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the recent incidents of killing of people in the metropolis, including of young medical student Nimra Baig and death of five siblings, were quite painful.

The CM presided over a meeting to review the law and order situation here with specific reference to the incidents of Malir building collapse, killing of three labourers from Bajaur in Larkana, Irshad Ranjhani murder case and encroachment of forest land and properties of Hindu community.

“We have to take necessary measures to stop such incidents and need to strengthen the Sindh Food Authority,” he said referring to the death of five siblings and their aunt at a room in Qasr-i-Naz on Feb 22.

IGP given two days to complete and submit report in JST leader’s murder case

Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani briefed the CM about the incident and said that the lab reports were being awaited.

The CM ordered Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah to further strengthen the Sindh Food Authority and direct them to keep testing kitchens of restaurants and eateries.

Nimra’s killing

The CM said that the killing of an innocent final-year MBBS student, Nimra, was quite painful. Mr Shah directed Inspector General of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident and also start necessary training of police regarding how to deal with criminals at public places.

He also asked the IGP to issue necessary instructions to all police ranges and zones to improve law and order in their respective areas.

Talking about Malir building collapse, the chief minister was told that the building was constructed without any approved plan.

All the agencies — the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Rangers, police — rushed there for starting a rescue operation and it created some problems in the rescue work.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to develop a system under which only one agency should carry out the rescue operation.

He also issued directive for the proper training of PDMA rescue crew.

Regarding Ranjhani’s murder case, the chief minister was told that the case was under investigation from all angles, including personal enmity, robbery attempt or any other reason.

The CM asked the IGP to complete the investigation process within two days and submit a report to him.

Ranjhani was a local leader of the Jeay Sindh Tehreek (JST) who was shot dead by a union committee chairman in Malir.

Forest land vacation

The CM also directed the police authorities to support the district administration to get vacated forest lands and the lands and other properties of Hindu community members occupied by some people.

He said out of 70,000 acres of forest land some 25,000 acres had already been vacated. The forest department needed police force to get vacated the remaining land, he added.

Referring to the complaints of some members of the Hindu community about illegal occupation on their lands, the chief minister directed the district administration to get their properties vacated and hand them over to their legal owners.

Joining via a remote video link, the DIG Larkana briefed the CM about killing of three labourers.

He said that several suspects had been arrested, but the main culprits were still at large.

Also, Karachi police chief Dr Amir Shaikh gave the CM a briefing on the situation of law and order in the metropolis.

The chief minister directed him to further focus on street crime, which was still a threat to the peace of the city.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2019