Nation must unite for country’s development, says Sharjeel

Sindh's Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon has stated that for national development, everyone must set aside their differences and unite.

Independence Day is celebrated every year, but this time the nation is particularly excited about the occasion, he said in a media briefing in Karachi on Tuesday.

The Sindh government is celebrating the 77th Independence Day with great enthusiasm, in line with the directives of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing a press conference at the Directorate of Electronic and Social Media, Memon stated that unfortunately, the spread of drugs is increasing in our society. The federal government will support us in the fight against drug abuse. The Sindh government is increasing the number of rehabilitations centres for drug addicts.

Currently, he said, we have the capacity to accommodate 400 people in these centres, while there are 7,000 pending applications from individuals seeking help to overcome their drug addiction. All institutions must play a role in drug prevention.

He mentioned that the Excise and Taxation Department has taken significant measures to prevent the spread of drugs. President Asif Ali Zardari issued directives for the eradication of narcotics during his visit to Sindh shortly after assuming office. “We must protect our younger generation from the menace of drugs.”

The minister stated that the Narcotics Control Wing of the Excise Department has registered 178 cases against drug peddlers since March, and 200 drug peddlers have been detained, from whom a large quantity of narcotics has been recovered. Sindh Chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the provincial minister for health are also providing full support in the fight against drugs, he said. “We must stop the spread of drugs at all costs.”

He mentioned that the Sindh Police are also taking action against drug dealers. The police conducted 5,629 raids, registered 6,396 cases, and detained 7,571 suspects, recovering 5,096 kilograms of drugs from them. The Sindh Police sent 316 drug dealers to jail and dismantled five gangs in their crackdown on drug trafficking. Additionally, 189 suspects involved in looting were detained in Karachi, and 57 were killed in encounters with the police.

Memon said the performance of the Sindh Police in eliminating drugs is commendable. The Sindh Police have also taken significant steps to reduce street crime, and their improved performance should be highlighted. In the operation against dacoits in the Katcha area, 43 robbers have been killed, while 11 policemen have also been martyred. In our country, negative news is often emphasized more, but the positive work being done by the police should also be acknowledged, he said. The home minister and the IGP are working very hard. He mentioned that the electricity bill is a significant problem in Pakistan, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has contacted the federal government multiple times to seek relief. “Inshallah, the people will hear news of this relief very soon,” he added.

In response to another question, he stated that the department has the legal right to take action against its officers. The PPP has not nominated Bashir Memon for the position of governor of Sindh.