Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday chaired the 31st Apex Committee meeting at the CM House where he was informed that investigations into the terrorist attack on the Karachi Police Office (KPO) had revealed that one of the terrorists killed in the counter-terrorism operation at the KPO was a madrasa teacher.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Senior Minister for Transport, Information, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Wasif, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Sindh Rangers Director General Maj Gen Azhar Waqas, Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi Additional IG Imran Yaqoob Minhas, Chief Collector Customs Yakoob Mako, Federal Investigation Agency Director Zaeem Iqbal and others.
Illegal foreigners
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) presented an investigation report to the Apex Committee which said a madrasa teacher was involved in the KPO attack on February 17, 2023.
During the KPO clearance operation carried out by the law enforcers, the terrorists were killed and through their fingerprints and other investigations, it was revealed that one of them taught at a madrasa. It was pointed out illegal foreigners were studying in different educational institutions, including religious seminaries.
The CM discussed the matter with the Apex Committee members and decided to carry out a joint mapping of illegal foreigners living in the province and studying at educational institutions so that actual data of illegal foreigners could be collected.
The home minister and home secretary informed the meeting that 43,762 and 1,653 illegal foreigners had been repatriated and deported respectively. It was said that 42,109 illegal foreigners returned voluntarily, 81,106 were proof of residence (PoR) card holders and 65,936 had other cards.
It was pointed out that 57,000 fake computerised national identity cards had already been blocked while 17,217 were in the process of getting blocked. The CM said that the joint mapping of illegal foreigners living in the province, particularly Karachi, was necessary so that their credible data could be developed for their repatriation.
It was decided that the joint-mapping exercise would be carried out by the Special Branch of the Sindh police and relevant federal government agencies. At the outset, the CM briefed the meeting about the decisions taken in a special meeting on law and order chaired by President of Pakistan Asif Zardari at the CM House on Wednesday.
The president had directed the provincial government to launch a well prepared vigorous operation against dacoits in the Kutcha area, street criminals in Karachi, land grabbers and drug mafia so that the people could live in peace.
The CM reiterated his government’s commitment to implementing the directives of the president of Pakistan in true spirit, which were also part of the Apex Committee’s agenda.
Narcotics
The minister for excise, taxation and narcotics control said that through a joint mechanism, an intelligence-based crackdown had been started by his department against the drug mafia.
He added that 166 suspects had been arrested in 164 drug cases. Memon said that his department had also launched awareness campaigns in different educational institutions to save the students from the menace of narcotics. He added that a dedicated helpline to report any narcotics-related activity had also been developed so that immediate action could be taken over such complaints.
The meeting decided that a fusion centre should be established for a strong coordination among all relevant law enforcement agencies (LEAs) so that coordinated information-based operations against narcotics could be carried out. The CM directed the excise and home departments to submit their proposals for the establishment of the fusion centre.
Display of arms
The CM directed the police, Rangers and other agencies to take strict action against the guards wearing civil dress and displaying arms while sitting in open trucks and vehicles. “This is illegal and would not be allowed,” the CM said. The Sindh police chief said that he would issue instructions in this regard to all the police stations in the province.
Sharjeel’s media talk
Speaking to the media after the Apex Committee meeting, Senior Minister for Information, Excise, Taxation, Narcotics Control, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon decisions had been taken at the meeting to launch crackdowns against drug dealers, actions against illegal immigrants, and operations against bandits and other criminals.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari has given clear instructions that no concessions will be made to anyone who patronizes or facilitates criminals. In light of President Zardari's directives, significant decisions have been taken in the meeting of the Apex Committee.
Memon mentioned that the issue of drugs was also addressed in a meeting chaired by President Zardari the previous day. He said the era of drug dealers' impunity is over; if they persist in drug dealing, they will face dire consequences.
He emphasized that both the federal and provincial governments are collaborating in cracking down on drug dealers. Joint teams will be constituted by the federal and provincial authorities to target drug dealers, and joint checkpoints will be set up in the province's border areas.
Memon said the Excise and Narcotics Control Department is currently active, having already apprehended over two hundred suspects. Additionally, revisions are underway in the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department, including stricter legislation against those who supply drugs to schools and households. Furthermore, joint operations involving Rangers, police, and the anti-narcotics force are ongoing against drug dealers in Sindh.
He mentioned that efforts are underway to identify illegal immigrants and gather their data. Monitoring of the locations where illegal immigrants seek shelter will also be implemented. Residing illegally in any country is not permissible. Therefore, illegal immigrants from Pakistan will be repatriated, and action will be taken in accordance with the national policy against illegal immigration.
He emphasized that President Zardari has directed the Sindh government to show no leniency towards those aiding robbers. Accordingly, the government's policy in this regard is one of zero tolerance. Stringent actions are underway in the riverine area, resulting in the recovery of numerous hostages.
He mentioned that President Zardari also addressed the issue of street crime, and the police briefed him on their performance. All institutions and individuals are unified in their stance against street criminals. The police are actively taking measures to combat street crime, and under the leadership of chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, political leaders and law enforcement agencies are earnestly working to address this issue.