Wednesday 25 March 2015

Restricting movement: ‘Install scanning gear at Sindh-Balochistan border’


KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah is pushing hard for the deployment and installation of scanning equipment along the border of Sindh and Balochistan to prevent terrorists from sneaking in and out of the province.
“I will talk to the Balochistan government and together we will work out a strict vigilance and scanning plan at the border,” he said while presiding over a law and order meeting at the CM House on Tuesday.
Earlier in his presentation to the chief minister, Inspector General of Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali said that heinous crimes such as terrorism, murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and dacoities were recorded at 48% (4,125) in Karachi during 2014, 16% (1,351) Hyderabad, 14% (1,210) Larkana, 10% (875) Sanghar, 8% (711) Shaheed Benazirabad and 4% (301) in Mirpurkhas.
In his break-up of overall crime in the province, the inspector general said 54% (4,655) dacoities/robberies, 38.5% (3,294) murders, 5.2% (449) extortions, 1.7% kidnapping for ransom and 0.3% (26) were also recorded in the same period.
In the first three months of the year up to March 23, he said, some 269 criminals were killed. Of these 67 were terrorists, 42 Lyari gangsters, 11 kidnappers and 149 dacoits. In the year 2014, criminal fatalities  were estimated at 858, he added.
While talking about arms and ammunition recovered from all over Sindh during 2015, the IG Jamali said a bomb making factory was detected and destroyed in Karachi last week. Apart from that explosive material weighing 200kg were recovered. The other recoveries include six bombs, two PRG-7 rockets, four suicide jackets, 168 rifle grenades, one G-3 rifle, 81 Kalashnikovs, 204 shotguns and 2108 pistols, he described.
National Action Plan
Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, giving a briefing on the measures taken under the National Action Plan (NAP), told the chief minister that combating operations are being conducted against the terrorist hideouts employing RRF and SSU.
While talking about religious ceremonies, he said 72 Madaris have been closed in the Hyderabad range. “Police search operations are being carried out against madrassas suspected to be involved in terrorist activities. The SSPs have been directed to strictly implement ban on construction of new Madaris. Flags of proscribed organisations have been removed,” the home secretary said, adding that there were 60 religious outfits.
Talking about action against Afghan refugees, the home secretary said 1,048 were arrested and 408 cases registered.
Operation at Nine-Zero
The director general of the Rangers, Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar, said on March 11 paramilitary soldiers conducted an information-led search operation around the Muttahida Qaumi Movement headquarters in Azizabad.
During the operation arms, ammunition and explosives recovered from there including four 9mm pistol, 19 7mm rifles, 22 repeaters, 22 rifles, two LMGs, one Kalashnikov, 26 awan bombs, 18 SMGs, two 223-rifles, 14 pistols of 30 bore, four rifles of 8mm, one rifle of 4M, 13 G22 riffles, two rifles of 222 and 11 rifles of GSG5.
Over two dozen suspects were handed over to police and then booked under different cases, he said, adding that 59 others apprehended from the various areas have been detained for 90 days.
Street crime
The chief minister directed the Sindh police to control street crime. “We have to control street crime. I want people to walk free without any fear. We have to restore this city as the city of lights once again,” he asserted.
The meeting was attended by Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah and other government officers.

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