KARACHI, May 31: As part of a new strategy to deal with incidents of targeted killings, armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom, the Sindh government decided on Thursday to revise the territorial jurisdictions of police stations in the city.

The strategy, which also covers the establishment of intelligence units and introduction of community policing at the police station level, was finalised at a meeting held at the CM House.

Jointly presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the meeting reviewed the law and order situation in the province with particular reference to Karachi.

The intelligence units would comprise Intelligence Bureau and special branch officials as well as local youths, it was decided.

The meeting also decided that the station house officers on the pattern of Islamabad police would classify areas within their remit into A, B and C zones on the basis of previous records of crimes, troubles, raids and overall criminal activities.

The A-zones would be fully monitored with enhanced patrolling while B-zones would be monitored at mid-level with the support of local community and C-zones would include trouble-free areas, the participants at the meeting were briefed.

Kharadar, Orangi, Korangi, Patel Para, Katti Pahari, Lyari, Malir and SITE were identified as sensitive areas. The home department would notify these areas to give them special status with respect to law and order, the meeting decided.

The meeting was informed that in all sensitive areas, sub-police stations would be established and round-the-clock patrolling ensured in addition to random spot checks on vehicles by police and Rangers.

Directing the law-enforcement agencies to take prompt measures to maintain law and order across the province, the chief minister said the causes of unrest seemed to be ethnic, sectarian, political and financial, but it was the prime duty of police and Rangers and the government to take administrative steps to check them.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik highlighted the need to evolve a joint strategy to control law and order.

It was decided that the Sindh government would acquire an aerial surveillance system. The federal government would help the Sindh government in procuring two such units to monitor Karachi streets, the meeting was informed.

It was also decided that the jail record of criminals released on bail would be reviewed and their activities would be closely monitored.

Other decisions taken at the meeting included a ban on renting out residential premises in sensitive areas without prior information to police; fast completion of the arms licence computerisation project; and the delivery of SIM cards only to subscribers’ postal address mentioned on their computerised national identity cards.

To work out the implementation of a plan for surrender of all illicit arms, the meeting decided to reassemble in the first week of June.

It was suggested to the authorities to convene a meeting of all political parties with the aim to strengthen inter-ethnic and inter-sectarian harmony in all parts of the province. The participants also emphasised that efforts be made to reduce political polarisation in Karachi by taking all political groups in confidence to weed out criminals.

Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Rangers DG Maj-Gen Rizwan Akhtar, Inspector General Police Syed Mushtaq Shah, Additional CS (Home) Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, Additional IG of Karachi Akhtar Gorchani and others attended the meeting.