KARACHI, Nov 1: The Home Minister, Rauf Siddiqui, on Tuesday said control rooms of the home minister, home secretary, IGP Sindh, CCPO Karachi, DG Rangers and RPOs of Hyderabad and Sukkur will remain functional for 24 hours from a day before Eidul Fitr till Eid day.

Talking to journalists at his office, he said the police and other law enforcing agencies had been put on high alert to deal with any emergency or law and order situation in the last 10 days of Ramazan while Section 144 had also been imposed, banning carrying of weapons and their exhibition in Sindh.

The home minister said all enforcing agencies had been given strict orders to get Section 144 implemented in the province.

He denied the occurrence of violent incidents on the basis of religion. “One or two incidents regarding minorities have been reported but that happens everywhere,” he said.

Mr Siddiqui vowed that if any mosque, imambargah, temple, church or other places of worship place were harmed in Sindh, the perpetuators of such acts would be dealt with an iron hand.

He paid tributes to police officers and jawans in their struggle against criminals and for restoration of law and order.

He said a large number of officers and jawans of the Sindh police had embraced martyrdom in encounters with criminals, adding that the number of martyred police officers and jawans was unprecedented as compared to the past.

Regarding the killing of MQM MPA Asma Sherwani’s husband in police firing, he said a judicial inquiry had been launched into the incident.

“I also went to the MPA’s residence, announced Rs0.5 million as compensation and asked the home secretary to expedite action against the concerned police officials,” he added.

Speaking about earthquake relief activities, the home minister said that criticism of one another in the wake of the tragic incident should be avoided as over 4.5 million people had become shelterless.

To a query regarding clashes between the Sunni Tehreek (ST) and the MQM, he said there was no political difference between both parties; however, adding that any law and order situation would not be tolerated.

Regarding the teaching of Sindhi Salees, he said all languages were respectable and people should learn each other’s languages.—PPI