KARACHI, June 12: Karachi police are going to the provincial finance department with a proposal to sanction four water cannons and modern equipment in the next fiscal budget to cope with riots in the city of more than 16 million people.

The city police do not have modern equipment and they traditionally use teargas shells and sticks to control or disperse mobs. The police are considering buying at least four water cannons and other riot equipment.

“I am preparing papers to approach the government as we need some modern and non-lethal weapons such as rubber pellets to cope with riots. I am sure that I will convince the government for allocation of funds to purchase the riot equipment,” Capital City Police Officer Azhar Ali Farooqui told Dawn here on Tuesday.

He said the foremost priority of police was protection of life and property of citizens and maintenance of law and order.

In civilised societies, modern and non-lethal equipment like water cannons, rubber pellets, stun gun, a special chemical called ‘mace’ were used to tackle an unruly mob. (Mace is a chemical that makes eyes and skin sting, which police officials carry in spray cans so that they can defend themselves against people attacking them.)

Mr Farooqui said the non-lethal equipment would be purchased to handle and disperse violent mobs. He said four water cannons besides other equipment were needed at the initial stage.

About the specialised riots police, he said that the reserve police stationed at zonal police headquarters were trained enough to handle any law and order situation.