KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday ordered the police and Rangers to intensify their ongoing targeted operation against ‘terrorists’ and outlaws during the last 10 days of Ramazan to help people enjoy Eid shopping and business activities thrive peacefully.

Presiding over a law and order meeting at the Chief Minister House, Mr Shah said peace should be ensured in the city to let people go to bazaars without any fear.

CM adviser on law Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Rangers DG Maj Gen Omar Ahmed Bokhari, IGP Dr Kaleem Imam, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Abro, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, Commissioner of Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani, AIG-Karachi Dr Amir Shaikh, provincial sectors’ commanders of the intelligence organisations, FIA director Sultan Khwaja and other officials attended the meeting.

Dr Imam told the meeting that a force of 2,686 policemen had been deployed to provide security to 7,397 mosques and 302 open places across Sindh where taraveeh prayers would be offered.

He said there were 5,026 shopping centres — 318 in Karachi, 175 in Hyderabad, 28 in Mirpurkhas, 96 in Benazirabad, 118 in Sukkur and 61 in Larkana — where 5,026 policemen had been deployed for security.

CM Shah asked the police, Rangers and intelligence agencies to deploy their personnel in plainclothes as well for intelligence purpose.

“I want people should feel safe and secure in the presence of police and Rangers and LEA personnel, there should not be any kind of harassment or inconvenience for the people,” he said.

The IGP said there were 1,306 Imambargahs in Sindh — 570 in Hyderabad, 273 in Karachi, 233 in Larkana, 93 in Benazirabad, 88 in Mirpurkhas and 49 in Sukkur.

Some 820 majalis and 330 processions would be organised on Yaum-i-Ali. He added that 78 Imambargahs, 58 majalis and 47 processions had been worked out as most sensitive. Of the most sensitive Imambargahs, 30 were in Karachi, 22 in Hyderabad, one in Sukkur and 25 in Larakana. The chief minister asked the police chief to take strict security measures and continue combing and targeted operations across Sindh.

City police chief Dr Shaikh said the route right from Shah-i-Khurasan to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah had been declared sensitive, thus, security arrangements had been made accordingly.

The IGP said that 32,260 policemen would be deployed on Yaum-i-Ali — 5,573 in Karachi, 13,814 in Hyderabad, 234 in Mirpurkhas, 3,222 in Benazirabad, 3,482 in Sukkur and 5,935 in Larkana. Some 638 vans, 704 motorcycles and seven armoured personnel carriers and six private vehicles would patrol at sensitive spots and along the processions.

Rangers chief Maj Gen Bokhari said Pakistan Rangers had also worked out a detailed security plan. He added that some 2,960 Rangers personnel would be deployed on Yaum-i-Ali across Sindh, of them 1,500 would be in Karachi, 500 in Hyderabad, 310 in Benazirabad, 400 in Mirpurkhas 250 at Sukkur and 400 in Larkana.

Processions

The chief minister approved the diversion route presented by the city police chief vis-à-vis Yaum-i-Ali processions and asked the police department to publicise the routes for the people’s convenience.

The meeting was told that 890 police officers, including five SSPs, 12 DSPs and eight inspectors, would be present on the duty.

Similarly, the meeting was told that Eidul Fitr prayers would be offered at 4,181 places in Karachi, including 235 Imambagahs and 344 open spaces, where 13,186 policemen would be deployed for security.

The chief minister said that during the last 10 days of Ramazan, traffic jams had increased at iftar; during those 10 days, street crime also increased because of increased commercial activities.

The chief minister was told that during Ramazan a number of hitmen, robbers, notorious killers and drug traffickers had been arrested.

The chief minister asked the police and Rangers to ensure effective surveillance on the Sindh-Balochistan and Sindh-Punjab borders during the last days of Ramazan. He said there was a need to improve inter-provincial policing and launching of an operation in the katcha and riverine areas.

The chief minister asked the IGP to coordinate with the Punjab and Balochistan police for interprovincial border security and prepare a joint action plan. He also urged him to work out a plan to start provincial highway patrolling.

Purchase of weapons

Mr Shah said he had released Rs1 billion to the Sindh police for the purchase of vehicles, and more funds would be provided to them in the next budget.

He added that an impressed money account with an allocation of Rs50,000 per police station as a revolving fund would be created.

The chief minister also approved purchase of 4,500 pistols from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory, Wah.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2019