KARACHI: The 24th meeting of Apex Committee, held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, reviewed the implementation of the decisions it had taken in previous meetings and issued necessary instruction for conducting security audit of important installations, urged Civil Aviation Authority to functionalize Mai Bakhtawar Airport Islamkot and requested the high court to designate separate judge(s) for hearing street crime cases.
The meeting held in the committee room of the CM House, was attended by provincial minister Nasir Shah, Adviser Law Murtaza Wahab, Corps Commander Karachi Lt-Gen Humayun Aziz, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, DG Ranger Maj-Gen Omer Bukhari, IG Sindh Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani, Adl Ig Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, concerned provincial secretaries, advocate general Sindh and Prosecutor General Sindh.
Deeni Madaris: The meeting was told that around 8195 Denemadris/Imambargahs located on the main roads or arteries, therefore it was decided that onward no NOC would be issued for establishment of seminaries/Imambargah on the main road.
The meeting was told that draft bill `Sindh Deeni Madaris Act, 2016, submitted by Auqaf department, vetted by law department has been submitted to the chief minister through a summary for approval.
The Ministry of Interior has notified a working group under the chairmanship of secretary education with representatives of concerned ministries and agencies which has to deliberate on seminaries reforms, registration, government funding, mainstreaming, curriculum and foreign funding etc.
The chief minister directed law adviser to further proceed on federal working group inputs to avoid dichotomy. The meeting, taking policy decision, decided to register seminaries as an educational institution by the education department instead of the Auqaf department.
Safe City project: The meeting was told that the Safe City project as decided by the Apex Committee has been complied partly. They include facial recognition system, intelligent traffic management system (ITMS), big data analysis system, e-patrolling and model police stations/smart policing and Sindh police automation-decision support system.
The legal and financial decisions required to be implemented, include safe city authority- its bill has been passed by the assembly, feasibility study to install 10,000 cameras to be installed at 2000 sites, arrangement of funds. At this the chief minister said that he would release funds from block allocation shortly.
The other components such as installation of trackers in motorcycles, introduction of RFID Number Plates as approved by the cabinet, and establishment of a Ballistic Lab for firearms registration are underway. The meeting was told that currently 2500 CCTV cameras were functional and being monitored through Command & Control center located at the CPO.
The meeting decided to install HD CCTV cameras at all the exit and entry points so that movement of vehicles and people could be monitored. The overall financial estimate of Safe City project has been made at Rs24 billion.
Street Crime: The meeting was told that a separate law to try street crime cases separately was under process for which guidance from Sindh High Court was being sought. It was pointed out that street crimes could be effectively tried under existing laws and the trial by Session Court was more effective than trial by the magistrate.
The Prosecutor General told the meeting that as per Apex Committee decision, he has prepared guidelines and circulated among Investigation Officers/Police officers through IGP for invoking more strict sections of law. They include robbery, commonly known as street crime, is committed by use of deadly weapons or inducement causing grievous hurt.
The offence ought to be charged under Section 392. Where there is separate case(s) for one and same set of transactions, a joint charge under section 265E of CrPc is to be framed rather than filing in two distinctive courts. Up to date CRO shall be attached with a police report. The meeting was also told that every Saturday training sessions were held for I.O and FIA officials on terror financing and money laundering. The meeting appreciated the implementation of the Apex Committee decision.
The meeting decided to request the high court to designate session courts exclusively for trying street crimes. Terrorism: The meeting was told that terrorism was on itys peach in 2013 when 51 incidents had taken place which went on containing and finally six incidents took place in 2020.
Heinous crime: The Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon said that in 2013 some 2789 cases of killing were reported which went down to 491 in 2019. The incident of target killing recorded at 509 in 2013 came down to 12 in 2019. Kidnapping for ransom came down from 78 in 2013 to 41 in 2019. Similarly, 533 cases of extortion were reported in 2013 which also came down to 128 in 2019.
If heinous criminal activities of 2019 are compared with 2020 (up to August) it showed a reduction of 43 cases in killings, reduction of five cases in target killing, 7 in ransom and 12 in extortion, the Adl IG said.
The mobile phone snatching has been increased by 1101, four wheelers snatching reduced by 34 vehicles, two wheelers snatching has been increased by 336 vehicles. At this the committee members urged police to start operation against the shopkeepers who were purchasing spare parts of snatched vehicles and mobile phones.
In 2020, around 2,685 criminals involved in robberies were arrested, 416 held red-handed, 19 were killed in police encounters and 3,121 weapons of different kinds were recovered. The Adl IG Karachi told the meeting that in 2020, 90 robbers were released, including152 in the first week of their arrest, 114 within two weeks, 140 in 30 days, 163 in three months, 183 in six month and 156 over Sindh months of their arrest.
Case study: sharing a case study of lengthy criminal procedure, Adl IG Karachi said that an accused was arrested on April 16, 2017 in a robbery with murder case in the jurisdiction of Maripur police. On Sep 20, 2017 charge was framed. 95 hearings of the case were held and nine times the complainant was called to record the statement and on July 14, 2020 the accused was acquitted.
The meeting decided to strengthen the prosecution and in case of the bail of robbers appeals would be filed. Blacklisted terrorists: The meeting was told that as decided by the Apex Committee in its last meeting, appeals have been filed in acquittal cases of black listed criminals/terrorists. The IG Police and Rangers and PG conveyed compliance of the decision. It was also pointed out that the acquittal of accused in Daniel Pearl Case and acquittal of one of the accused in PIDC bomb blast have been challenged in the Supreme Court.
The meeting was told that a list of 268 under-trial black list criminals/terrorists has been shared with PG for effective prosecution. CPEC projects: The meeting was told that as per its earlier decision security of all the CPEC projects employees particularly the Chinese have been strengthened.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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