Some security guards may be Taliban, RAW agents: CJ

KARACHI - Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has observed that RAW and Taliban agents might have inducted in the guise of security guards.

While hearing the Karachi violence case at the Supreme Court registry on Thursday, the chief justice observed that security arrangements are made only on papers. Don’t wait for tragedies to happen and take prompt steps for security. If effective steps are not taken, incidents will continue to take place.”

He said that training should be imparted to the security guards deployed at hospitals as they were soft targets.

“The screening of security guards is a must. It cannot be ruled out there may be agents of Taliban and RAW in the guise of security guards. These are such people who get themselves enrolled on fake identity cards. However it is the responsibility of the police to keep a watchful look on them. No compromise can be made on such matters. Security guards deployed at hospitals were not being subjected to screening”, the chief justice observed.  The Sindh government filed a progress report on security steps taken during five years.

It was said in the report that police and Rangers conducted more than 17,000 operations from September 2013 till now and apprehended 80,000 culprits. Over 1500 persons involved in target killing and kidnapping for ransom were also arrested.  Over 1,500 accused were arrested on the charges of possessing illegal weapon and over 450 for possessing explosive materials, the report said. The report said that 105 cases of heinous crimes have been referred to military courts.

According to the report, effective steps have been taken to depoliticise the police. On being inquired by chief justice about CCTV cameras, the Sindh chief secretary told the court that Rs10 billion have been earmarked for purchase of new CCTV cameras. It will take time to invite tenders about over 10,000 CCTV cameras. Therefore, permission should be accorded to spend money on repair of 8000 old cameras, he said.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till next month.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt