President Asif Ali Zardari recently chaired a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House to discuss the law and order situation in Sindh. Despite receiving a generally positive report on the province’s security, President Zardari expressed concerns about the persistence of street crime in Karachi.
The meeting was attended by key figures including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, provincial Interior Minister Zia Lanjar, IG Ghulam Nabi Memon, DG Rangers Sindh, the Chief Secretary, and other high-ranking officials.
Discussions covered various aspects of security, including the situation in Karachi, operations against bandits in the Kacha area, and other relevant matters.
Chief Minister Shah presented a briefing highlighting improvements in Karachi’s street crime situation, attributing the progress to successful operations against bandits in the Kacha region.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to continuously monitor the province’s security and hold regular meetings with law enforcement agencies.
Briefings by DG Rangers and IG Sindh Police further supported this positive outlook, indicating a decrease in overall crime rates during the first four months of the year. However, street crime statistics revealed a concerning number of fatalities, with 49 deaths occurring in 48 cases.
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While acknowledging the progress made, President Zardari questioned the underlying causes of street crime in Karachi, contrasting it with other countries where such crimes often have clear motives.
He urged the police to investigate the destination of stolen vehicles and mobile phones and take decisive action against individuals involved in handling stolen goods.
The meeting also included a briefing on operations in the Kacha areas, revealing a significant number of kidnappings during the period from January to April 2024. Police efforts led to the successful recovery of 103 abductees, with ongoing operations aimed at rescuing 20 more individuals.
The briefing highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in these operations, with casualties sustained by police personnel.
According to insider accounts, Zardari said that this would not be his only review of the crime situation in Karachi and he will organise follow-up meetings as well.
He said that latest weapons should be brought to the Sindh police as soon as possible and he would talk to PM Shehbaz Sharif about this as well.
Zardari reportedly asked the DG Rangers to name anything he wanted, to which the DG responded by saying ‘all is well’.
When Naqvi pointed out that the contractor building Kashmore bridge was afraid of working due to dacoits, Zardari said that the IG and DG should ensure maximum securiyt to get the project completed.
He also said that the intelligence agencies should aid law enforcement to end crime in the city.
An MQM delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also called upon Zardari where they discussed the law and order situation in Karachi.
The delegation included Mustafa Kamal, and Farooq Sattar as well. CM Mura Ali Shah and Mohsin Naqvi also attended the meeting.
Zardari assured the delegation that he was concerned by the street crime situation in Karachi. MQM assured him of full cooperation in solving the city’s problems.
