KARACHI, April 8: The advisory board of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) on Friday accorded approval for the establishment of a proper office of the committee in Hyderabad, aiming at expanding its operation across the province, a senior official said.

The board also seconded the one-year extension to the services of CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy and decided that the tenure of a committee’s chief would be reduced from three years to two years by changing the existing rules.

“The meeting also decided that government funding of the CPLC should be increased and the service be made more effective with enhanced coordination with the police and law-enforcement agencies,” said Mr Chinoy.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who being the patron-in-chief of the CPLC chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Sindh High Court Chief Justice Musheer Alam, founding CPLC chief Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim, the home secretary, secretary to the governor and former CPLC chief Sharfuddin Memon as permanent members of the body.

Similarly, the 12 government-nominated members of the body from different walks of life included retired justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Aqeel Karim Dehdi, Siraj Kassam Teli, Bashir Ali Mohammad, Mian Zahid Hussain, Khalid Tawab, S.M. Munir, Dr Masood Ahmeed, Dr Asim Hussain, Fatima Surraya Bajia, Farogh Nasim and Younus Tabba.

Mr Chinoy said the CPLC had already been offered land for setting up an office in Hyderabad by the regional police and with the support of the authorities concerned, the office would be set up and made functional shortly.

“Even now we handle complaints from entire Sindh and a number of actions, mainly against kidnapping for ransom suspects, were taken in line with coordination between the CPLC and the area police,” said the CPLC chief.

“With the permanent facility in Hyderabad, we hope to expedite the process and may help the complainants in a more effective and better way.”