Karachi: The provincial cabinet of Sindh on Sunday decided to embark on a two-pronged strategy of dialogue with political parties to expedite ongoing targeted action against criminals and terrorists for maintenance of peace and order in the sprawling metropolis of Karachi.
In a hurriedly-called meeting at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the cabinet decided to ramp up security at all jails across the province, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad, where high-value criminals affiliated with banned outfits had been kept.Briefing newsmen, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the cabinet had a discussion on ongoing violence, targeted killings and a Saturday night attack on Karachi jail and decided to adopt a two-pronged strategy of consultations with political parties and to expedite ongoing targeted action against criminals.
Memon, who was flanked by Waqar Mehdi and other PPP leaders, told the media that a multi-party conference would be convened to discuss and come up with a joint strategy to tackle security situation in Karachi. The government would consult the political parties first and then decide a date for the conference, he said while adding the opposition parties criticising the government should come up with positive suggestions to maintain order in the country’s economic hub.
The cabinet also decided to form a joint interrogation team to probe killing of MQM MPA Sajid Qureshi who along with his son was killed on Friday. The probe team would comprise officials of police, rangers, Inter-Services Intelligence and other spy agencies for a transparent inquiry into the incident, added the minister.The Sindh government, Memon stated, had decided to carry out surprise and snap checking to prevent any unwanted happening and violence acts. He also appealed to the citizens of Karachi to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies, saying these steps were being taken for their own security and safety.
About blockade of roads leading to the Chief Minister’s House and Governor’s Houses, the minister said security threats persisted in red-zone area, so the roads had been blocked as a preventive measure.Memon further said the cabinet was briefed by officials of police and other security agencies about the cracker blast at Karachi central jail which was foiled by security personnel deployed there. He said the government had prior information of the attack on the jails. Following the attack on the jail, the chief minister ordered to enhance security at all the jails in Sindh.
Besides, an operation would be launched to recover mobilephones and other equipment from prisoners that was not allowed under the jail manual, Memon said, adding the cabinet also decided to install jammers at all the prisons. He said the rangers and police had been given a free hand to take action against criminals irrespective of their political affiliations. He also said the federal intelligence agencies were cooperating with the Sindh government. -Nation
