President Asif Ali Zardari has directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to launch a large-scale operation against street criminals in Karachi, dacoits in the Katcha area, and drug traffickers throughout the province in close coordination with other provinces.
President issued number of directives including taking action against the drug mafia, curbing stolen goods trade, completing much-delayed Karachi Safe City project and others to restore law and order in Sindh particularly provincial capital amid rising violent street crimes.
The development came during a special meeting chaired by President Zardari to review the law and order situation in the province at the CM House on Wednesday which was attended by the high-ups of the federal and provincial governments, as well as representatives of the security institutions.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, chief secretary, inspector general police (IGP), Director General (DG) Rangers Sindh and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
The meeting was held to review overall law and order situation in the province, specifically the longstanding issues of Karachi street crimes, katcha bandits, menace of narcotics, land grabbing, security of foreign nationals, as well as acquirement of facilities and resources.
Sindh CM Shah gave a detailed briefing on prevailing law and order situation of the province to the president. He said that the situation was improved after an operation in katcha (riverine) areas.
He added that the Iranian president’s visit to the metropolis, Pakistan Super League (PSL) and international cricket matches, and peaceful organisation of religious events were proofs of the improved law and order situation.
During a briefing, Sindh Rangers DG Major General Azhar Waqas apprised President Zardari that overall 5,357 crimes were reported in the first four months of 2024.
In 2014, Karachi was standing on the sixth number in the global crime index which is now dropped to 82nd, the president was told.
