CM okays JITs of 23 hardened criminals

Shah tells IGP to tackle street crime seriously

Karachi

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has approved the constitution of joint investigation teams (JITs) to interrogate 23 alleged hardened criminals, including notorious Lyari gangster Uzair Jan Baloch arrested recently.

A statement issued by the CM House on Thursday said the chief minister had okayed the JITs of 23 hardened criminals, including Masood Alam alias Bhola Chacha, Mohammad Ayaz, Mohammad Hamid alias Pappu, Syed Azmat Hussain alias Azmat, Mohammad Arshad alias Asad Chhota, Mohammad Naeem, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Nasir alias Muchhar, Abdul Rasheed alias Kashif Beechwala, Mohammad Saeed Baloch, Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammad Adnan, Mohammad Farooq alias Landi, Dil Murad, Mohammad Danish, Saleem, Mohsin alias Lamba, Rehan alias Shana,  Syed Imran Raza, Mahar Bux, Adnan alias AD alias Danish, Mohammad Aslam alias Muna.

The authorities are in the process of forming JITs to question Mohammad Khurram alias Mota, Mohammad Farhan alias Fantar, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Shafiq, Mohammad Sohial and Minhaj Qazi.

The statement said the provincial government was committed to eliminating terrorist elements from the province by taking drastic measures. "The terrorists are our enemy and the enemy of our beloved country. We understand their nefarious designs and also know how to tackle them," the chief minister was quoted as saying in the statement.

“The people of the province have entrusted their confidence in the PPP's government in Sindh and their life, property and liberty will be protected at any cost,” said Shah. 

After JITs completed their task, the criminals would be prosecuted properly for which necessary measures were being taken, said the statement.

On February 16, the home department had notified a joint interrogation team to grill Lyari gangster Uzair Jan Baloch.

The notification said that in pursuance of the orders of the administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts in Karachi Division, a JIT had been constituted for conducting an inquiry into Baloch’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

 

‘Curt street crime’ 

The chief minister telephoned the inspector general of police and expressed his apprehension over the growing incidents of streets crime and bank robberies.

"This is very serious and it must be tackled on the same pattern as heinous crimes are tackled," he said while speaking to IGP Jamal Hyder Jamali.

"The citizens who have heaved a sigh of relief after the restoration of peace in the city are now starting to get upset,” he said.

The chief minister directed the IGP to tell all SSPs to strengthen security in their areas by enhancing patrolling and keeping an eye on criminal activities. "The bank robberies are also on the increase. This is also serious and must be handled with an iron hand.”

Shah stressed that the SHOs and other police officials must be alert in the city. "I would hold the police officer concerned responsible if street crime or a bank robbery takes place in any area.”

He urged the top cop of the province to direct the police stations to solve cases related to street crime and bank heists and give him progress reports on a fortnightly basis.