After the recent exchange of harsh remarks between leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over the law and order situation in Karachi, the PPP on Friday attempted to lower the political temperature by inviting MQM-P representatives to a high-level meeting on law and order.
The meeting was chaired by Sindh Home minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar at the Central Police Office (CPO). It was attended by MQM-P MPA and leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khursheedi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon and others.
Officials said an 11-member delegation of the MQM-P participated in the meeting. Earlier, the delegation was received by the home minister and IGP on its arrival at the CPO.
The IGP briefed the participants on the law and order situation and police measures. He said there was no difference in the crime data of the Sindh police and that collected by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee.
The police chief also apprised the meeting about the incidents of snatchings of mobile phones, vehicles and motorcycles during 2023 and 2024. He said Karachi was ranked 128th on the World Crime Index before the caretaker government took over.
He said the success of the police against street criminals was certain and face recognition cameras had been installed at 28 toll plazas in Sindh. The IGP explained the police operations against criminals and drug peddlers. He said that by reorganising Madadgar-15, the police were trying to make it compatible with the requirements of the modern era.
He added that 67 investigation officers (IOs) had been notified under special orders to investigate murder cases during robbery resistance.
He said rules and standard operating procedure had also been drafted for the pilot project of e-tagging of habitual offenders. The home minister stressed the need for implementing the law for the protection of witnesses in order to ensure convictions of criminals.
He ordered measures to protect the witnesses so that their confidence in the police could be restored and they could approach the courts without fear to testify.
All possible steps should be taken for online testimony to protect the witnesses, Lanjar said. He added that SHOs would have to take concrete steps against crime.
On the occasion, the home minister asked the MQM-P delegation to work together with the Sindh government to improve the law and order situation.
MQM-P’s statement
Talking to the media after the meeting, Khursheedi said killings of youth during the street crime was not a political issue but a human issue. “We don't want politics on this issue, but we want a political and administrative solution to this problem. That's why we have come for the meeting,” the opposition leader remarked.
He said no political party should protect criminals on the basis of linguistic prejudice. “We will not allow the citizens to face the punishment of incompetence and negligence of the police or the government,” he added.
The MQM-P leader demanded that priority should be given to local officers in postings to the police stations in Karachi. He also called for establishing community policing in the city. Responding to a question, he said the MQM-P was a political party and the option of public protests was always open.