Karachi - Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday presided over a meeting to review law and order of the province.
He was briefed over crime situation and details of raid on Nine-Zero by police and Rangers authorities.
The meeting was attended by Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar, Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bulllo, Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro, IG Prison, representatives of secret agencies and other government officers.
Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar giving briefing on Nine-Zero, Azizabad said that on March 11, Rangers conducted an information-led search operation at MQM Headquarters.
During the operation arms, ammunition and explosives recovered from 90 include four 9mm pistol, 19-7mm rifles, 22 repeaters, 27 rifles, two LMGs, one KK, 26 awan bombs, 18 SMGs, two 223-rifles, 14 pistols of 30 bore, four rifles of 8mm, one rifle of 4-M, 13 G-22 riffles, two rifles of 222 and 11 rifles of GSG-5.
He said 26 persons were handed over to the police and were booked under different cases. "During interrogation, accused have disclosed involvement in a number of crimes in different police areas of the city. More weapons were recovered on their tip which included two rocket launchers, one mouser, one carbine, two awan bomb launcher and four TT Pistol and l560 rounds,” he said.
He said that 59 other persons were also apprehended and are detained for 90 days. So far, he said that no license has been produced before the police. According to forensic laboratory all arms are in working condition. During the search operation a mob gathered at the place and resorted to firing due to which one person was killed and other injured for which the police have registered a case.
IG Sindh giving presentation to the chief minister said that the heinous crime which included terrorism, murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and dacoities were recorded 48 percent (4125 cases) in Karachi during 2014, 16 percent (1351) in Hyderabad, 14 percent (1210) in Larkana, 10 percent (875) in Sanghar, eight percent (711) in Shaheed Benazirabad and 4 percent (301) in Mirpurkhas. Giving further break up of overall crime in the province the IG said 54 percent (4655) dacoities or robberies, 38.5 percent (3294) murders, 5.2 percent (449) extortion, 1.7 percent kidnapping for ransom and 0.3 percent (26).
"Till March 23, some 269 criminals have been killed, of them 67 terrorists, 42 from Lyari Gang war, 11 kidnappers, 149 dacoits. This figure was 858 in 2014."
Talking about arms and ammunition recovered from all over Sindh during 2015, the IG Jamali said that a bomb making factory was detected and destroyed in Karachi last week.
Apart from this 200-kg explosive material was recovered. The other recoveries include six bombs, two PRG-7 Rockets, four suicide jackets, 168 rifle grenades, one G-3 rifle, 81 Kalashnikovs, 204 shot guns and 2108 pistols. The IG further said that average murder per day was 7.8 in 2013 and in 2014 it came down to 4.86 (315) and during 2015 it has further dropped down to 2.7 or 226.
Giving three months comparative crime in Karachi up to of March 2015 the IG said that in the first three months of 2014, some 315 murder cases were registered while during the corresponding period of 2015 total murders were 226. This shows a decline of 89 cases.
In the same period of 2014, 35 persons were kidnapped for ransom while in 2015 this figure came down to 19 showing a difference of 16 cases. Similarly, extortion cases during the first three months of 2014 were reported at 80 and in 2015 it came down to 55. This shows a decline of 25 cases. The street crime which was recorded at 542 in first three months of 2014 showed a decline and recorded at 345 in 2015. This shows a difference of 197 cases. Talking about killing of criminals during the 560 days of targeted operation the IG said that 888 criminals have been killed, 1546 target killers arrested, 539 terrorists arrested, 487 extortionists apprehended and other 19,701 other criminals arrested.
NATIONAL ACTION PLAN:
Home Secretary Mukhtiar Soomro giving briefing on the measures taken under National Action Plan (NAP) told the chief minister that combating operations are being conducted against terrorist hide-outs employing RRF and SSU.
Talking about madaris, Soomro said that 72 madaris have been closed in Hyderabad. "Police search operation is being carried out against Madaris 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," he said.
Soomro also said that there were 60 religious outfits. "We have killed their 67 militants and arrested 26. Under Loud Speaker act 363 cases have been registered, of them 149 arrested," he said and added that under hate material 21 cases have been registered and 21 accused arrested.
Talking about action against Afghan refugees, the home secretary said that 1048 have been arrested and 408 cases registered.
STREET CRIME:
Sindh CM directed Sindh police to control street crime. "We have to control street crime I want people walk free of any fear. We have to restore this city as city of lights again," he asserted.
He appreciated the efforts of Rangers and Sindh police for their vigorous efforts to restore peace in Karachi. The CM said that installation of scanners along the border of Sindh and Balochistan has become inevitable.
"I would talk to Balochistan government and we would work out a strict vigilance and scanning on the border jointly."