KARACHI: Following his meeting with elected representatives of the District Municipal Corporation Central, Karachi police chief Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh directed his subordinates on Wednesday to solve the problem of traffic congestion in Liaquatabad and take action against sale of drugs in New Karachi.

The city police chief met with DMC Central chairman Rehan Hashmi and chairmen and vice chairmen of union committees in the district. The DIG-West, DIG-Traffic, SSP-Central and other senior officers were also present.

After listening to problems raised by councillors, Dr Shaikh gave one week to police officers concerned to end traffic problems in Liaquatabad and curb sale of drugs in New Karachi.

He also asked the officers to play their role for curbing crimes in their respective areas in collaboration with the elected representatives.

“We have to work together against peddlers,” he said and warned that if any police officer was found involved in drugs, action would be taken against him.

He claimed that compared to last year, street crimes had been reduced during the current year.

He said that youths were involved in 65pc of street crimes and most of the criminals were addicts.

He said that besides drugs, unemployment was also another cause of street crimes.

He said that the police had launched a campaign against beggars and urged the UC chairmen to play their role in this regard.

Separately, while inaugurating the IT lab of the West zone police in district Central, the city police chief directed all investigation officers to get their case files prepared by this IT lab in future.

Despite resource constraints, the city police were making endeavours to improve investigation as there were many problems, he said, adding that efforts were also under way to improve performance of the prosecution department to bring culprits to justice.

In the first phase, IT labs were being set up at police zone level, which would be extended to district as well as police station level to provide a favourable environment to investigators to build an effective case against criminals.

Meanwhile, Rangers on Wednesday held a programme at their anti-terrorist wing in which snatched/stolen vehicles and mobile phones were handed over to their original owners after fulfilling legal formalities.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2019