KARACHI, March 6: Following a decision taken during a meeting in Islamabad a couple of days back, the Sindh government has decided to launch a vigorous drive against narcotic trade, gambling dens and crime in the province.

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held here on Sunday which was presided over by Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui and attended by Home Secretary Brig Ghulam Mohammad Muhtaram, IGP Asad Jehangir, CCPO Tariq Jamil, DIG Operation Mushtaq Shah, DIG Traffic Mohammad Yamin Khan, all TPOs, DPOs of Hyderabad, Thatta and Mirpurkhas and other officials.

Provincial ministers Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, Qamar Mansoor and Mustafa Kamal; MNA Abdul Waseem; and some MPAs were also invited to the meeting.

The home minister told the meeting that he would review the situation with the concerned officials at fortnightly meetings and stressed that the planned drive should be result-oriented.

Elected representatives at the meeting identified some specific cases in this respect and called for effective action against criminals and their activities.

The home minister directed the police officials to look into the complaints and take appropriate action. He also asked them to respond positively to the complaints and suggestions presented by elected representatives as the interaction and cooperation between the two sides would help maintain peace and tranquillity.

Mr Siddiqui also directed TPOs and DPOs to hold monthly meetings regularly with the elected representatives of their respective areas and ensure participation of SHOs. He said that reports of the meetings be submitted to him by 10th of every month. He also advised the elected representatives to apprise him of the results of such meetings. He also ordered action against the professional land-grabbers.-PPI