KARACHI, Nov 17: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has directed law-enforcement agencies to adopt all precautionary and preventive measures to curb activities of anti-social elements.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to review law and order situation in the province, he asked the agencies to keep a constant vigil on the activities of criminals, anti-social elements and dacoits in Karachi to protect people’s life and property. He expressed his annoyance over the agencies’ failure in gathering intelligence before Tuesday’s carbomb blast at PIDC, and ordered them to remain alert to prevent recurrence of such terrorist attacks.

He called for round the clock patrolling on horses and motorcycles in the ‘most sensitive security zone’ covering the area housing the Governor’s House, CM’s House, Muslim Gymkhana, Sindh Secretariat, Sindh High Court, Assembly Building, Rangers Headquarters, PIDC, major hotels, Frere Hall, US Consulate, Qasar-i-Naz, etc.

The CM said that the scheme of surveillance camera installation in the city should be reviewed and in the first phase, cameras be installed in the area from airport to PIDC roundabout for which banks, petrol pumps, hotels and owners of prominent buildings be approached for cooperation.

He was surprised to know that the traffic monitoring system through Cameras installed at the PIDC intersection were not functional and, as such, it failed to record Tuesday’s car bomb blast. He asked chief secretary to Initiate an inquiry into the matter and submit a report to him within the next few days.

Dr Arab expressed the hope that integrated efforts by all law-enforcement and intelligence agencies would yield positive results and help improve law and order.

The meeting was informed that as per a national programme, all police Stations were being linked through a computerized system to maintain the Record of criminals while installation of cameras would help keep a vigil in various important areas.

The chief minister was told that owners of some hotels and buildings had Installed cameras inside their respective premises on their own and were being Asked to install more cameras to monitor the situation outside the premises.

The meeting decided that the areas around PIDC would be made ‘No Parking Zone’ and the traffic flow there would be regulated. A car parking space outside the Government Commerce College in the area would be established.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, Home Secretary Brig (r) G. M. Mothered, IGP As ad Jeanie, CCPO Inez Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional IG Special Branch, Deputy DG Rangers Sindh, DIG Operations and other officials of The law-enforcement agencies.

SURPRISE VISIT: Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim took a serious note of non-implementation of his order regarding security and asked officials of the law-enforcement agencies to take foolproof security steps in the city.