KARACHI As a first step towards deweaponising the city, the Sindh cabinet announced on Wednesday that all arms licences would be verified, fake ones would be cancelled, future licences would be issued only by the home department, and district coordination officers would lose powers to issue arms licences.

The cabinet also decided to launch a campaign to check licensed weapons and to make the city weapon-free.

It appealed to the people not to carry weapons as their use would not be allowed even for self-protection, as providing security to the citizens was the responsibility of the state.

The cabinet also decided to check encroachment on government land, deal with criminals with an iron hand and to reform the police force.

These decisions were taken at a marathon session of the cabinet that lasted over five hours on a one-point agenda of law and order situation. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah presided over the session which was attended by ministers of coalition partners, except the Awami National Party minister who could not make it because he was out of town.

Information Minister Shazia Marri, accompanied by Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar and Information Technology Minister Raza Haroon, briefed the media persons on the cabinet meeting. The journalists were made to wait for three long hours in committee room No 1 of the Sindh Assembly building before the briefing.

Ms Marri said that Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet about the last few days` disturbances and shared government information with the elected representatives of the people and informed them of the efforts made to control the situation, which was now almost under control except at a few places.

She said keeping in view the recent happenings in the neighbouring country, whatever efforts were being made by the home minister were appreciated by all participants.

It was decided that all MNAs and MPAs would be asked to play their role in their constituencies to help the government calm things down.

Besides, she said, peace committees would be revived. The situation had deteriorated due to encroachment of government property by the land mafia which led to the killing of innocent people and creating of circumstances which prevented children from going to school, she said and added that the cabinet reiterated the principle that `no one is above the law whatever profession or party he may belong to` and anyone found indulging in subversive activities would be taken to task by the authorities.

She said keeping in view the police performance of the last few days, all participants expressed the need to repeal The Police Order that gave them authority without accountability as a result of which they failed to deliver. It was decided that the coalition parties would seek approval from their political leadership before calling for its repeal.

It was also decided that in the future recruitment in police would be made purely on merit and arms licences would be discouraged.

In order to check encroachment on government land, the cabinet decided to constitute a revenue department force which would take cognizance of land grabbing and book those involved in it under the criminal procedure code.

The minister said the cabinet condemned the killing of innocent people, loss of property and expressing condolence and sympathy with the affected families and decided to pay them compensation, which would be announced on Thursday.

Ms Marri said no party was involved in forcing any community to shut its businesses. She said that in the absence of the ANP minister at the cabinet meeting, the home minister had a meeting with Sindh ANP President Shahi Syed and he was also keen to see peace restored to the city.

In reply to a question, Minister Raza Haroon said the united front of the coalition government for the last two days was busy in making efforts to restore normality to the city, particularly the MQM`s elected representatives were visiting markets, streets and settlements of the affected areas. He said that such efforts had borne fruit and law and order had been restored.

In reply to another question, the minister said it were criminal elements who did not like the coalition government to stay intact.