KARACHI: Police have chalked out a strategy to maintain peace in the metropolis in the wake of growing frustrations among the people due to stricter lockdown measures.

This was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon here on Wednesday.

“I have given instructions to zonal DIGs and district SSPs in a meeting held today to ensure peace and security in Karachi during the coronavirus emergency,” he told Dawn.

Elaborating the instructions, he said frustration in the general public might increase if the situation did not improve.

“In that case, we have to make our reserves ready to move in order to deal with any unpleasant situation. Zonal DIGs and district SSPs shall personally inspect their reserves and ensure inclusion of most suitable manpower for them besides giving them appropriate anti-riot gear for such a duty,” he said.

Karachi police chief suggests door-to-door supply of rations from 4am to 7am

The city police chief said that district SSPs had been directed to gear up their intelligence mechanism and collect information from the underprivileged localities for any food shortage.

Welfare organisations would be encouraged to supply rations in the areas reported to have shortage of food under a mechanism worked out by the government. The additional inspector general of the Special Branch had also been asked to collect information and share such data horizontally at the district and zonal level.

“Police will launch a crackdown against those persons who are making this difficult time an opportunity by collecting rations from different organisations and selling them in the market,” said the police chief.

A drive against hoarding and profiteering would also be carried out in coordination with the district administration, he said, adding: “Police will identify miscreants who may incite people to agitate.”

The city police chief said district SSPs would share such information with all the quarters concerned and take legal action against them in order to avoid any potential law and order breakdown.

According to the strategy, the police in coordination with the Rangers will ensure that ration should not be distributed at any open place to avoid gatherings of people. The preferred mode of ration supply would be door to door that too in the early hours of the day ie from 4am to 7am only.

Police officers deployed at pickets had been directed to be polite but firm with the people, according to the strategy.

“District SSPs will prepare a comprehensive plan for night patrolling and static pickets for security of markets, shopping areas and banks in order to avoid incidents of burglary,” the police chief said, adding that market associations would be taken on board in this exercise.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020