KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said that the menaces of street crime and drug mafia in the metropolis as well as dacoit gangs in riverine area were major challenges for police and there’s a dire need to eliminate all those for such criminal activities.

“It is our responsibility to protect life, property and freedom of movement of the people of the province. Therefore, we have to eliminate these menaces,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the 117th passing-out parade of 787 constables here at the Shahid Hayat Police Training College, Saeedabad.

He added that the police had been tasked to eliminate dacoits from Katcha area, bring street crime in the city to zero level and crush drug mafia to protect our children.

Regarding mugging incidents, the chief minister said: “Street crime has affected the free movement of families in the city,” he said “I want the police to eliminate street criminals and restore the confidence of the people of the city.”

Passing-out parade of 787 recruits held

While he mentioned the prevailing economic situation in the country as one of the factors behind an alarming rise in street crime cases, he quickly added that it could not be justified on any pretext.

About dacoits gangs in riverine area, he said that it was “quite painful that the dacoits kidnap peaceful people, including their children for ransom”.

“This is totally unacceptable...they are terrorists and must be crushed so that nobody again could dare to form such gangs,” he said.

About drug mafia in the city, he said: “I know a targeted operation against the drug mafia is in progress but even then, the desirable results have yet to come out.”

He said that synthetic drugs had reached educational institutions and were destroying the young generation.

He directed the police to speed up operations against the drug mafia as they were also involved in street crime.

The chief minister lauded the services and bravery of personnel of the Sindh police and said that 2,400 policemen laid their lives in the line of duty while fighting against terrorists, hitmen, street criminals, drug mafia and protecting polio teams.

“I believe in you and I am sure you [Sindh police] are capable enough to eliminate dacoits of katcha area and street crime in Karachi,” he said.

Passing-out parade

Earlier, the chief minister inspected the guard of honour at the passing-out parade and distributed prizes among position holders of the training programmes.

He said that the passing out of 787 constables would be a good addition to the numerical strength of the police force.

Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon briefed the chief minister about different categories of training programmes such as commando, riot handling, thwarting dacoity attempts and conducting raids.

The policemen, who completed their training, demonstrated their policing skills to the chief minister.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of police officers, family members of under-training constables, members of civil society and people of the area.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023