Karachi: Law enforcers still clueless about cop killings

As law enforcers continue to remain in the dark about Monday’s murder of a traffic policeman, the home minister has ordered strict vigilance while the Rangers have called for improving inter-agency coordination.

The traffic cop was gunned down in an attack in Gulshan Town just three days after as many policemen were shot dead in District Korangi, bringing the total number of law enforcers killed this year to 14 in eight such incidents.

Sindh Forensic Division chief SSP Javed Akbar Riaz told The News on Tuesday that the spent bullet shells collected from the scene of the traffic policeman’s murder were cross-checked against the empty casings gathered from the sites of previous similar incidents, but no match could be found.

In response to a question, Riaz said they had neither issued a statement about finding a match nor claimed that TT pistols were used in Monday’s attack. He clarified that the assailants had targeted the traffic policeman with 9mm guns.

Meanwhile, the Counter Terrorism Department Sindh Police Station has registered an FIR under the anti-terrorism act and other sections against hitherto unidentified men for killing the cop and injuring two more in the attack.

Strict vigilance

Home Minister Suhail Siyal convened a meeting to review the prevailing law and order situation in Karachi. His spokesman said in a statement that Siyal had directed the police to keep a strict watch over terrorist and other criminal activities across the city.

The statement said the minister expressed his concerns over the murders of policemen in the metropolis. “He said forceful actions will be taken against terrorists and other criminals in the city.”

The spokesman said Siyal issued special orders to provide traffic sergeants on duty with immediate police protection, pointing out that the provincial government allocated a large amount of money for Sindh police and other law enforcement agencies to protect the lives and properties of the people.

The statement said the minister directed the Karachi police chief to carry out a crackdown on the criminals who were involved in the killings of policemen, adding that Siyal sought performance reports of every police station on a daily basis.  

Inter-agency coordination

The spokesman for the Sindh Rangers said a top-level meeting was convened at the headquarters of the paramilitary force, with its provincial chief Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed in chair.

The meeting was attended by the Sindh police chief, the Karachi police and senior officials of the police department, the paramilitary force and sensitive agencies.

They took into account the security measures to be taken to maintain law and order in the context of the recent incidents of terrorism across the country, especially target killings of policemen in Karachi.

They stressed the need to improve inter-agency coordination and discussed conducting joint operations by the law enforcement agencies under a composite strategy to effectively prevent any terrorist activity.

The Rangers Sindh chief announced Rs100 million for anyone providing credible information leading up to the arrest of terrorists involved in target killings of policemen in the city. He assured that the names of the informers would remain confidential.

Meanwhile, Karachi Traffic Police chief Aijaz Shaikh said he had requested the authorities to provide traffic sergeants with 9mm pistols. “I have also made a request for more bulletproof vests as well as manpower because we’re shorthanded.”

Moreover, a senior police official said it was too early to confirm the involvement of any particular group, adding that Tuesday’s meetings had discussed at length the security issues faced by law enforcers, especially traffic cops.

He said the meetings were informed that traffic sergeants deployed at the city’s thoroughfares were performing duties at risk despite being provided with bulletproof vests and guards.

It was pointed out that there were more than 20 rush points in peak hours where traffic sergeants were facing difficulties in carrying out their responsibilities, he added.

“In this regard, the Rangers and police chiefs have decided to protect traffic cops during peak hours. It was also decided that the Rangers and police will jointly lead snap-checking and patrolling across the city.”