LARKANA: The district and sessions judge Syed Sharafuddin Shah has termed Larkana district administration’s performance “zero and shocking” and law and order conditions in the city “very alarming” particularly with respect to street crimes.

The judge, who is also chairman of Criminal Justice Coordination Committee, directed Larkana deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police through letters sent on Monday to submit reports regarding non-compliance of directions about the city’s state of affairs issued by a meeting of the committee held on Aug 10.

He asked the DC to ensure proper utilisation of funds for the beautification of the city and price control. Necessary facilities should be provided to citizens, he said, adding that unfortunately, the administration’s performance was zero and shocking.

He said that it had been observed physically as well as through social media that the issue of sewage overflowing onto streets, garbage dumped in streets and on main roads and traffic disturbance had peaked nowadays.

He said that it had put question mark on local administration with the result that helpless citizens of Larkana district had to put up with great trouble and hardship. Despite clear directions, the DC’s office had not taken even a single step to resolve the civic issues, said the letter.

The judge said that it had also been observed that there was no check and balance on price spiral and quality of food being sold in markets, which could have been made better through surprise visits of shops by the district administration. He said the absence of check and balance was encouraging shopkeepers and traders to sell away substandard foodstuff, which was injurious to health at the rates of their choice.

Such gross negligence showed loose administration that had left people at the mercy of greedy shopkeepers and traders, he said, adding that the DC had been asked to submit a detailed report about the steps taken so far to improve the state of affairs within 15 days.

In another letter addressed to the SSP, the judge said that the committee had issued directions that SHOs concerned should not leave innocent and helpless people of Larkana at the mercy of criminals.

It had been observed that since a few days the situation had become very alarming, particularly with respect to rise in street crime as the SHOs had failed to control crimes within jurisdiction of their respective police stations. He said that it seemed either they were hand in glove with criminals or the criminals had grown more powerful than them. Therefore, they had no right to continue to work at the police stations where crime rate was increasing day by day, said the letter. He said that it had been found that juniors had been posted at some police stations instead of senior officers with good reputation. Inadequate FIRs were being registered by writing police constables which should have been lodged by writing head constables at some police stations while magistrates and office of district public prosecutor had complained about it, said the letter.

He sought detailed reports about performance of SHOs, particularly those posted at police stations of Larkana, Ratodero, Dokri and Bakrani within 15 days. If the SHOs failed to control crime, they should be replaced at once with responsible officers, he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021