Sindh apex committee to meet tomorrow

The Sindh chief minister has convened the next meeting of the provincial apex committee on August 1 (Tuesday). 

The session – the 20th meeting of the provincial apex committee since its inception a few years ago – would be held at the Chief Minister House and is scheduled to commence at 3 pm. 

According to the meeting agenda, the apex committee will hold follow up discussions on the issues taken up at the July 4 special apex committee meeting held at the Corps V Headquarters in Karachi.

The follow up would include taking stock of the progress made on the decisions agreed upon in the special apex body huddle. 

The meeting participants would be given a presentation by the provincial home secretary on the progress made by Sindh on the National Action Plan. 

The meeting would also discuss the pressing issue of security for Chinese nationals working on development projects being carried out as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The participants of the apex committee huddle are also likely to accord approval for sending to the federal interior ministry of terrorism-related cases recently recommended by the legal committee, a sub-committee of the apex body, for transfer from anti-terrorism courts to military courts.

An important point on the agenda pertains to police reforms in the province. The meeting participants are likely to take stock of the progress made on the ongoing process of police reforms in Sindh. The provincial home secretary would also conduct a presentation on the topic. 

The special apex committee held on July 4 was presided by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa who lauded the efforts of the Karachi Corps and Sindh Rangers in coordinating multi-agency efforts and performance of other law enforcing agencies, including the police, for improved law and order.

General Bajwa had said that stable law and order in the country was only possible with effective writ of the state through implementation of state laws. 

The forum was briefed about the law and order situation of Karachi and internal security matters of the province by concerned stakeholders. Progress on the National Action Plan (NAP) was reviewed and escape of high-profile terrorists from Central Jail, Karachi, with suggested corrective measures was also discussed.

The apex body, while expressing satisfaction on improvement of the law and order situation, had stressed upon the requirement for persistent efforts to achieve durable peace and stability within the province and the metropolis. 

The army chief directed all stakeholders to further improve synergy, reaction capability of law enforcement agencies, decision-making process and to hold the public office holders accountable.

Appreciating recent improvements in capability and capacity of Sindh Police, General Bajwa suggested improvements in its internal functioning to include induction on merit, availability of young trained leadership and strengthening of command. 

“Stable law and order in the country is only possible with effective writ of the state through implementation of state laws, its willing abidance by the public and across the board speedy dispensation of justice,” he said. “Despite considerable headway, we have a long way to go on these counts. The army shall continue to render its full support to all state institutions in this regard,” the COAS said.