KARACHI, June 17: Conceding that there is an anarchy-like situation in Karachi, Additional Inspector General of the Crime Investigation Department Ghulam Shabir Shaikh has promised to introduce proactive policing, especially in the business districts where extortion-related killings have been taking place over the past weeks. But he stopped short of saying that shoot-on-sight orders had been issued.

He was addressing a press conference along with the SSP of Karachi South.

“On seeing suspicious persons brandishing firearms, police will act in self-defence,” he said. “Traders will also be given arms licences to defend themselves.”

He said policemen in civvies would be deployed in business districts and other public places.

The situation was anarchic as far as law and order was concerned, he said, adding that a stricter policy would be pursued by police.

The AIG expressed concern over apprehensions about ‘capital flight’ from the city and said that although extortion had been a longstanding problem it was seldom that a person was killed for refusing to oblige extortionists.

He said police presence in streets should be visible in order to restore people’s confidence that had been shattered by killings and violence.

Mr Shaikh said the SSP and his team would visit crime scenes to take corrective measures. “Passing instructions on phone while sitting in office will not be enough.”

He said arson attacks had been taking place after crimes and warned that police would come down hard on arsonists and make them compensate the losses.

The AIG warned that if a policeman was found to have lodged a fake case he himself would be booked in the same case.

He said he learnt on Saturday night that the owner of a licensed wine shop had been booked by police for possessing charas. “I don’t see any logic in this case and I have assigned SP Dr Furrukh Ali to conduct an inquiry.”

Replying to a question about alleged involvement of the CID and other police units in extortion and kidnappings, he said he had heard such complaints from traders at a meeting held on Saturday.

He said anyone with a complaint about extortion or kidnapping by police should contact him directly and he would take stern action if an official was found involved.

The Additional IG said 13 people had been killed in 24 hours since Saturday. Five of them were incidents of target killing and three of murder because of enmity. The motive of the remaining five killings, he said, had not yet been determined.