KARACHI - The Sindh government has decided to shift the hardened criminals from Karachi to the prisons of other provinces and also arrest those criminals who had illegally been released on parole by the then provincial government before 2008.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah here at the CM House on Saturday.
Qaim expressed satisfaction over the performance and achievements of the law enforcement agencies regarding the ongoing targeted operation against the criminals.
“Much have been achieved in fight against the criminals in targeted operation and it has put a good impact on the public. Some clues have been received by the intelligence agencies that prisoners/hardened criminals in Karachi Jail were in communication with the outside criminals. They are planning and executing crime in the City with the collaboration of Black Sheep within the jail administration. Besides the criminals, who were released before the PPP government in 2008, have also been reported being involved in crime in Karachi. The Home Department will not only shift such dangerous criminals to other provinces but will also arrest the freed criminals before 2008. They were released illegally on parole. Most of them were under trial in heinous crimes at the time when they were released.
He said the jail management/official would also be made accountable for breach in security measures. Whosoever was found involved in facilitating the prisoners by providing means of communication or other things would be taken to task. He directed the Home Department for installation of jammers at such prisons and to keep these prisons under strict watch.
The chief minister directed the IG Sindh Police and Home Department for re-verification of the list of known/hardened criminals which were supposed to be made public with head money and to get it published in the Press.
He said instead of good performance by the LEAs, the rate of conviction was not encouraging due to some difficulties and weaknesses in prosecution. He directed the chief secretary, additional home secretary and advocate general to make effective co-ordination with judiciary, ensure accommodation for setting up five Anti-Terrorism Courts for heinous crimes and five for armed crimes within 48 hours. He said the trial of most dangerous cases should be made on priority basis with full preparation and conviction in such cases would be a source of encouragement to the forces.
Qaim stressed upon the officers for implementation on the Pakistan Protection Ordinance under which the LEAs can detain the criminals up to 90 days. The CM also directed the LEAs to ensure fullproof security during the Chehlam of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and Shuhdah-e-Karbala and also consult all the stakeholders in this regard.
The chief minister directed the IG Sindh Police for early procurements of the APC vehicles, bulletproof jackets/helmets and alarming gadgets for the cops. A package to compensate the families of martyred police/rangers’ officials by providing one residential plot, one matching job and Rs2 million to each victim’s family has also been implemented. He directed the IG Sindh Police to submit the list of such martyrs so that the heirs of their families be compensated accordingly.
Qaim also announced for another residential scheme for the police officers/officials within the area of police stations by building flats for them. He further directed the IG Sindh Police for preparing PC-I within the shortest possible time.
The IGP said the criminals and sectarian groups which were active in the City before the operation had either been busted out or marginalised at substantial level during the ongoing targeted operation in the city. He said during the whole period of targeted operation, a total of 10,850 criminals had been arrested, including those 256 who were involved in targeted killings, terrorism, extortion and kidnappings while 651 criminals were arrested in the cases of murder, dacoits and street crime. Similarly, 6246 criminals were arrested under Arm Act, Narcotics peddling and other crimes. Other arrested criminals are proclaimed offenders and absconders. He said 166 criminals had been challaned in 114 cases in the ATC courts in addition to 4,916 criminals’ who were challaned in 4,413 cases in other courts.
The prosecutor general informed the meeting that as many as nine criminals were convicted by the ATC court and 44 by other courts in different cases during Novembers 2013.