KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday decided to register all immigrants living in the metropolis, including slum areas, and on its outskirts to have their complete database, and constituted 15 teams to launch this exercise.

The home department would design a proforma to collect data of each and every immigrant, legal or illegal, about “who is who and where he lives and what he does”, it was decided at a special meeting held at CM House. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who presided over the meeting, also directed the law enforcement agencies to crack down on drug dealers and the seminaries which had strong links with terrorists or banned outfits. He asked the IGP and the Rangers DG to strengthen their checkpoints at Hub to keep a check on the movement of terrorists and set up a working group to coordinate with the Balochistan government in this regard on a regular basis.

CM asks law enforcers to present progress reports on key decisions in provincial apex committee meeting

The directives were part of the policy decisions taken at the meeting after the chief minister had been briefed about the ongoing targeted operation, credible information about the terror links of 93 seminaries, and clues given by some recently held high-profile terrorists regarding their accomplices in the city and their plans.

The meeting was attended by the provincial heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies besides chief secretary Siddique Memon, home secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, adviser to the chief minister on law Murtaza Wahab and information adviser Maula Bux Chandio.

Before any deliberations, they condemned the terror attack on the police training centre in Quetta, offered Fateha for those killed in the incident, and expressed solidarity with the people of Balochistan.

Reviewing the law and order situation in Sindh in general and Karachi in particular, the chief minister termed the overall situation satisfactory because of the wonderful job done by the law enforcement agencies. “I appreciate all of you for your efficient work,” he said while addressing the chiefs of the agencies. However, he highlighted the need to improve their watch and ward.

Earlier, the heads of law enforcement agencies briefed the participant in the meeting on security matters. They were informed that illegal immigrants living in the city, on its outskirts or those in slum areas were either directly involved in terrorist activities or harbouring and supporting terrorists.

The meeting was further informed that around 93 madressahs (seminaries) had solid links with terrorists or banned outfits. The intelligence agencies had gathered credible information about activities at these places. The chief minister directed the Rangers and police to start an operation against them. “We will not allow anybody to shed blood of innocent people in the name of religion or using sacred places,” he said.

The chief minister was also given a report on the operation launched to bulldoze the offices of parties or groups built on government land and gave his approval to extend the operation of bulldozing illegal constructions on government land near markets, parks and seminaries next month.

Mr Shah said that he would call an apex committee meeting shortly to discuss law and order issues. By the time, he added, the law enforcement agencies should start the registration process and other operations as decided in the meeting and present their progress reports in the apex committee meeting.

Published in Dawn October 26th, 2016