Database of Karachi residents to be set up: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that besides the census, a documentation of residents of Karachi will exclusively be ensured to identify locals and non-locals and surveillance cameras will also be installed under the Safe City Project.

Addressing a press conference here, Nisar said opinion will be sought from legal experts to give legal cover to the joint investigation teams (JITs). He said a digitised crime record database at the federal level will be established.

The minister said the Safe City Project for Karachi will be like Islamabad, adding that the security of Karachi will be made possible with the installation of surveillance cameras, adding that work on the Crime Database Framework will start after Eidul Fitr.

Talking about law and order in Karachi, the minister said the situation is improving to a large extent in the city as incidents of extortion, target killing and kidnapping for ransom have reduced. The minister also resolved that the murder of Amjad Sabri and kidnapping of the Sindh High Court’s chief justice’s son has been taken as a challenge by the law enforcement agencies and the culprits will be soon taken to task.

The minister said crime in Karachi had been reduced to a large extent, adding that terrorist activities during 2015 decreased by 45 percent, while casualties relating to terrorism and killing incidents witnessed a 39 percent reduction, whereas the injuries ratio had been reduced by 53 percent. The minister also said that the government is willing to satisfy people not with mere figures. “Terrorist elements are being encircled and amidst this scenario when terrorists are left with no other option but to make their existence felt through attacks on soft targets, the nation does not need to get demoralised and dejected. terrorist elements through our unity and dedication,” he said.

“Our security and intelligence are sweeping enormous achievements against terrorists and Pakistan is among those few countries which are narrating a success story against terrorists,” Nisar said. The minister said that some elements are playing negative role on social media to damage Pakistan's commitment to fight terrorism. 

Highlighting importance of police in maintaining peace in Karachi, the minister said 2,000 ex-servicemen will be recruited in Sindh Police. He said the army chief has assured to provide light arms to the police force to better fight terrorists. He said the Army will also provide training facilities to police force and monitor recruitment process.

The minister said the nation should not get demoralised with soft target terror incidents as they now need to win the psychological phase of this war. He said the government is making enormous achievements in curbing terrorists and to take war against terrorism to its logical conclusion. The minister said Pakistan's security and intelligence agencies have shattered terrorists' strength and they are now targeting soft targets to create fear and panic in the society.

He said the incidents of killing of renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri and on kidnapping of the son of chief justice of the Sindh High Court hinted at the depression of terrorists, adding that there is no need to get disappointed as terrorists are on the run. “We should demonstrate unity to win this psychological phase of war against terrorism,” he said.

Referring to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), the minister said that a meeting of home departments and counter terrorism departments would be convened to evolve an out of the box solution. 

He said the federal government is cooperating with the provincial governments on security related issues and Intelligence Bureau is cooperating and assisting in making operation in Sindh than any other province. “It is need of the time that point scoring is avoided relating terrorist incidents,” he said.

Nisar said on arrival of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from UK after Eid, the government is going to devise a mechanism with assistance of public, media and Ulema. The minister said that Pakistan is in a state of war, and the nation should demonstrate determination and steadfastness in face of terrorist attacks as unity is sole and ultimate panacea in defeating terrorists. 

The minister also said that it is very unfortunate that some sections of society have started voicing against the National Action Plan, and operation Zarb-e-Azb in face of such terrorists attacks as killing of Amjad Sabri and kidnapping of the son of the SHC chief justice.

“Negative criticism relating state institutions on social media is nothing except demoralising the entire nation and it is need of the time that we should keep check on all these elements who are making false propaganda,” he said.

He stressed the need for making special rules to confront elements hostile to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said the CPEC project is very important for Pakistan and that’s the reason the anti-state elements are making their endeavours against this project.

He said it has been proposed to convene inter-provincial meeting to establish a National Registration Authority (NRA), which will issue similar number plates.  Nisar said Pakistan tried to gate and fence its side of the border with Afghanistan to check terrorists and criminals' infiltration, but hurdles were created in this regard. 

Nisar also urged the media to play an active role in supporting security agencies in the psychological warfare. He also announced to send Pakistani police in the UN peacekeeping missions abroad and a formal letter to this effect will be written to the world body.

Responding to a query relating the case of model Ayyan Ali, the minister said the issue is not relating to the model, adding that evidences as traced out during investigations of this case are telling something different. He said this case is in the court and this is not his domain to comment over it.

To another query, the minister said military is busy in operation as well as prepared to contain any untoward situation during monsoon flash floods, adding that during elections of Azad Kashmir, Army personnel will be deployed to ensure fair and free polls.