President Asif Ali Zardari convened a high-level law and order meeting at CM House in Karachi on Wednesday, where he instructed Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to launch a comprehensive operation against street criminals in Karachi, dacoits in the Kacha area, and drug traffickers across the province, in collaboration with neighbouring regions.
Expressing unwavering intolerance for illegal land occupation, President Zardari urged immediate cessation of such activities. He emphasised the need for fixed tenures for police officers, coupled with stringent performance monitoring and removal protocols for those failing to meet expectations.
Furthermore, President Zardari directed the chief minister to ensure robust security for foreign nationals residing and working in Sindh, particularly emphasising the safety of Chinese nationals involved in CPEC-related projects.
The meeting, attended by key officials including Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal IT Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, aimed to enhance security measures. Also present were Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Minister of Energy Nasir Hussain Shah, and other provincial and federal officials.
CM Murad briefed the president on the ‘improved’ law and order situation, citing recent peaceful events such as the visit of the Iranian president and the successful conduct of PSL and international cricket matches. He assured the president of daily monitoring and proactive measures to uphold law and order in the province.
During the meeting, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) provided a comprehensive briefing on the current law and order situation. President Zardari was informed about a slight decrease in crimes against persons compared to the previous year but expressed concern over a rise in property crimes. Strategies to tackle these issues and reduce crime rates across various categories were discussed.
Regarding street crime cases, there was a reported decrease in March and April compared to January and February. Out of 48 street crime cases resulting in 49 fatalities, 27 cases have been resolved with 43 arrests and 13 fatalities in encounters. Similarly, out of 136 cases involving 174 injuries, 49 cases have been resolved with 114 arrests and nine fatalities in encounters.
Chief Minister Murad highlighted Karachi’s significant improvement in the global crime index, dropping from sixth place in 2014 to 82nd in 2024, with a crime index of 56.5. President Zardari expressed concern over Karachi’s persistent high crime rate and emphasised the need for tangible progress.
Efforts to combat street crime include the reinforcement of the Shaheen Force and Madadgar-15, along with proposals for E-Tagging of repeat offenders and the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) project.
President Zardari directed CM Murad to ensure effective execution of the operation against street crime and questioned the lack of action against markets and individuals involved in the sale of stolen goods.
MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui commended President Zardari’s focus on Karachi’s law and order and suggested monthly meetings to enhance citizen trust in the government.
Regarding the Kacha area, measures such as establishing police pickets along the River Indus and efforts to combat kidnapping were discussed. President Zardari instructed the establishment of police pickets to cover Shikarpur and Kashmore districts.
In terms of dacoit operations, significant progress was reported with several dacoits killed, injured, and arrested, along with the recovery of weapons. President Zardari urged intensified operations against dacoits and stern measures against kidnappers.
He instructed the completion of key projects like the Karachi Safe City project and directed community engagement to resolve tribal feuds in the Kacha areas.
President Zardari directed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to facilitate Sindh Police in acquiring sensitive equipment and emphasised coordinated efforts to combat narcotics, including prevention of drug infiltration into educational institutions and launching awareness campaigns for parents and teachers.
Assuring the MQM-P delegation of bettering the city’s law and order, President Zardari reiterated his commitment to addressing the issue effectively.