Apex committee resolves to show zero tolerance for militancy, criminal gangs

Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar chaired the 30th provincial Apex Committee meeting at CM House on Tuesday to review election arrangements and national action plan tasks.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz, Omar Soomro and Ahmad Shah, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Babar Iftikhar, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, DG Rangers Major Gen Azhar Waqas, IGP Riffat Mukhtar, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Chairman Planning & Development Shakil Mangnejo, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, and other officials.

The committee was informed that there would be a total of 19,008 polling stations, including 5,657 normal, 6,550 sensitive, and 6,801 highly sensitive ones in Sindh.

IGP Mukhtar shared the police deployment criteria, stating that four police personnel would be deployed at a normal polling station, five at a sensitive one, and seven at a highly sensitive polling station.

A total of 143,156 police personnel would be deployed at the polling stations, including 95,400 at the normal polling stations, 10,648 in the QRF Police, and 37,108 in the auxiliary force. Additionally, the Rangers and Army would be deployed as quick reaction force for duties at the selected highly sensitive polling stations, in addition to the police force.

Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar informed the CM that army troops had been dispatched all over the province to serve as the third tier during the general elections.

The CM expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements and mentioned that he had visited the divisional headquarters of the province to review them. The regional election commissioners present at the meeting also expressed their satisfaction with all the arrangements, including security ones.

The CM pointed out that in November 2023 the situation of street crime was disturbing. On average 265 street crimes were reported per day, whereas the response from the 15 Madadgar helpline was slow (more than 10 minutes’ reaction). The police vehicles were in dismal condition and organised crime was unchecked. At this, the IGP said that a dedicated motorcycle squad of 386 motorbikes known as Shaheed Force has been established to patrol the crime hotspots in the peak hours of criminal activity. He added that Madadgar-15 had been revamped with the deployment of an additional 300 vehicles and 120 motorbikes.

Thirty new computer terminals and eight large screens have been added to the Madagar -15 call centre for quick response. The call centre agents are trained twice by the University of Karachi to properly deal with victims of crimes.

Talking about the Madadgar-15’s achievements, the meeting was told that the Call Answering & Response Ratio increased from 92 to 98 per cent.

The meeting was told that overall law and order has improved in Katcha (riverine) areas of Sindh, especially on the left bank of the River Indus. Major crime incidents including kidnapping for ransom (KFR), dacoity and robbery are under control.

The patrolling and picketing by police have been enhanced, and IGP said District Kashmore was disturbed due to ongoing action against dacoits. The dacoits challenge the law enforcement agencies with more attacks and KFRs to exert pressure on the police to retreat.

DG Rangers Major Gen Azhar Waqas told the meeting that the Rangers also conducted 47 intelligence-based operations in the Katcha areas and arrested 145 dacoits/criminals, confiscating over 86 weapons along with 5248 ammunition rounds. He added that 10 additional check posts and one base camp have been established to secure movement on the Indus Highway/National Highway. He said that on the directives of the CM, a platoon of Rangers had been deployed to protect the Ghotki Bridge construction site. Now the construction work on the bridge has been started.

Home Secretary Iqbal Memon told that meeting that the provincial government has repatriated 43,623 illegal foreigners, of whom 42,093 returned voluntarily and 1,530 were deported since 1st October 2023.

The meeting was told that 165 cases of terrorism were registered in 2022, of them criminal charge sheets were submitted in 47 cases, 64 were still under trial and 16 suspect terrorists had been convicted.

The DG Rangers told the meeting that a proactive strategy against banned organisations had been adopted. He added that the Rangers had conducted 42 operations, and mitigated over 44 Threat alerts through proactive responses.

The Rangers conducted 121 combing operations to deter terrorist activities in Lyari, Orangi, Landhi, Korangi Gadap and other areas. The Rangers apprehended 25 extortionists against the complaints received from Chakiwara, Gulbahar, Jamshed Quarters and Sohrab Goth.

The DG Rangers said the Rangers had developed close liaisons with trade associations and the business community to support them.

The provincial apex committee resolved that there would be zero tolerance against militancy. No criminal or armed gang would be allowed to operate.