Qaim approves plans to revamp Special Branch, CTD

Asks federal govt to release bomb disposal equipment, vehicles donated by US and UK to Sindh Police

Karachi

The chief minister approved on Friday plans to revamp the Sindh police’s Special Branch and Counter Terrorism-Department proposed by their respective chiefs.

During a meeting at the Chief Minister House’s to review the regarding revamping and strengthening of the Special Branch and the Counter-Terrorism Department, Qaim Ali Shah also asked the federal government to hand over to Sindh the bomb disposal equipment and vehicles donated by the US and the UK for the province’s police.

The chief minister told provincial minister Murad Ali Shah to take up the issue with the interior ministry and have the equipment and vehicles released.

Additional IG special branch AD Khwaja told the participants of the meeting that equipment and vehicles donated by the US and the UK to the Sindh police was in the interior ministry’s custody.

The official said Rs20 million were required to revamp the bomb disposal unit.

“We need to purchase new equipment for the bomb disposal squads in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Larkana, upgrade our store, and create post-blast investigation unit,” he added.

The chief minister directed the home department to move a summary for re-appropriation of funds so that bomb disposal unit could be revamped.

Khwaja told the chief minister that the Canine unit assisted bomb disposal teams in searching places were VIPs were scheduled to visit.

He added that the unit was set up in 2010 with 14 dogs, but now only six were available which were not enough. “We need at least 20 more dogs,” he added.

The official said the dogs would be purchased from the army and the police department required its own training facility and breeding centre for this purpose.

The chief minister approved the project and directed IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali to set up a Canine unit at every divisional headquarter.

Khwaja also proposed setting up a school of intelligence. "This school will help train officers about intelligence gathering and covert operations,” he added. The chief minister approved the project for the next budget.

The additional IG said that the functions of the Special Branch included intelligence, surveillance, security, verification of government officials, security companies, pre-visa verification of Indians, airport entry passes, security audit, foreigners’ registration, technical assistance and bomb disposal.

He said presently the branch used the manual system of reporting and needed a central data bank.

He noted that manual records were poorly maintained and security equipment was outdated. Besides, he added, there were no intelligence training facilities and the branch’s offices lacked basic equipment.

The additional IG said the foreigners' registration section needed to be automated.

Under the official’s automation plan, there will be a central database at the headquarters with all field units connected to it fir online sharing of information, reporting and digital archiving of data.

To the chief minister’s query, Khwaja said 40 data entry operators were required to run the proposed network with one network administrator.

The chief minister approved the proposal. Shah said he had already directed the IGP to provide Rs10 million to Special Branch for the revamping of the foreigners’ registration section and its district offices connected with the headquarters through a central database.

Counter-terrorism department

Additional IG counter-terrorism department Dr Sanaullah Abbasi told the chief minister that the mandate of his department was to collect intelligence about terrorists, including members of sectarian groups, and such individuals and organisations and extend technical support for special operations and investigation, conduct research and analysis on terrorism trends and prosecute terrorism case.

He said cases of bomb blasts, terrorist shootings, suicide bombings, target killings linked to terrorism, tracing of terrorism financing and action against criminal networks involved in kidnappings for ransom and extortion cases were also part of his department’s mandate.

Presenting a Rs1.88 billion revamping plan, Abbasi said the CTD would become a more effective organisation if it was allowed to create a counter-terrorism force of 1,000 personnel.

He also proposed buying new equipment including GSM locators, armoured troop carriers, ballistic sheets, and bulletproof vests.

“CTD personnel need to undergo periodic training to build their capacity and also given cash awards for extraordinary performances," he added.

The chief minister approved the plan and directed the finance department to release funds for this purpose.

The participants of the meeting included provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro, Sohail Sial, Murtaza Wahab; home secretary Jamal Mustafa Shah; and finance secretary Sohail Rajput.