KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday emphasized that no effort should be spared in ensuring smooth law and order and no discrimination be made in dispensing justice to the law-violators.

He was presiding over a special meeting to review law and order situation in Sindh in particular in Karachi at the chief minister house.

The president said that maintaining law and order and ensuring safety and security of the citizen was the prime responsibility of the government and all efforts should be taken in this regard.

Giving details of the meeting, Spokesperson to the president Senator Farhatullah Babar said the meeting on law and order was attended among others by Acting Governor Sindh Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, provincial ministers, Inspector General Police, Director General Rangers, Secretary General to the president and senior federal and provincial officials.

The chief minister briefed the president about overall law and order situation. The interior minister also gave an overview of the security situation.

The Spokesperson said the president taking note of the use of mobile phones by the militants and criminals asked the government to work out a plan so that no SIM is delivered at the retail shops and the outlets of mobile companies and that they are posted to the addresses of the applicant as mentioned in the Computerised National Identity Card.

The president directed the interior minister to frame a draft policy in this regard for the cabinet's approval.

President Zardari also advised the law minister of the provincial governments to work on enacting suitable legislation, in consultation with all stakeholders, for the protection of the witnesses.

He observed that one of the reasons hindering effective prosecution was that witnesses backed out due to fear and insecurity.

He advised the government to study the model of witness protection laws adopted in other countries in the wake of rising militant activities for this purpose.

The spokesperson said that the president also took note of proliferation of the arms and weapons in Karachi and observed that the arms licenses should be based on smart cards as to ensure that no fictitious licenses were issued.

He emphasized that maintenance of order was a shared responsibility of all the political forces and concerted efforts should be made by all concerned for ensuring peace in the metropolis.