KARACHI: Inspector General of Police Riffat Mukhtar Raja on Wednesday said that a special police force would soon be established for the protection of minorities and their places of worship in the province and officers from minority communities would be recruited.

He said this during a meeting with Dr Shoaib Suddle, the chairman of a Supreme Court-appointed commission, at the Central Police Office.

The participants exchanged views over the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the protection of minority rights.

“During the session, it was revealed that police officers would be recruited under the minority quota to fill existing vacancies within the Sindh Police Department while a special police force within the Sindh Police, dedicated to the protection of minority worship places, will be established soon,” said a police spokesperson.

Mr Suddle was given a detailed briefing about the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the protection of the rights of minorities.

He asked all district police officers to establish a dedicated minority desk dealing with issues of the minorities, appoint an officer from the minority community in their office staff, and form special investigation teams comprising minority officers.

Dr Suddle emphasised the importance of regular awareness sessions for police staff regarding minority rights and grievances.

Commending the effort of conducting a special CSS exam exclusively for the minorities, Dr Suddle highlighted the aim to appoint over 700 minority officers across the country, ensuring representation in top bureaucratic positions.

Korangi as model community policing zone

Separately, the IGP and traders agreed to make the Korangi Industrial Area a model community policing zone.

This was proposed during a meeting of a five-member delegation of Korangi Association of Trade and Industries, led by Zubair Chaya with IGP Sindh Riffat Mukhtar Raja at the Central Police Office on Wednesday.

“A proposal floated during the meeting for transforming the Korangi industrial area into a model zone,” said the police spokesperson, adding that the IG Sindh not only endorsed the proposal but also committed to taking practical steps in this regard.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024