Murad vows gangs attacking cops will be behind bars soon

Sindh’s chief minister expressed his concerns on Sunday over increasing attacks on police officials across Karachi. “But we have identified the gangs involved in the incidents and, God willing, the people will hear about their arrests soon.”

CM Syed Murad Ali Shah’s statement comes in the wake of Thursday’s attacks in which a volunteer of the Police Qaumi Razakar and a police constable were martyred at the Northern Bypass and in Ferozabad respectively.

Home Minister Suhail Siyal had made the assurance that the terrorists behind the attacks would be brought to book soon. He also sought reports on the attacks from Karachi police chief Addl IGP Ghulam Qadir Thebo. Sindh police chief IGP AD Khowaja also sought detailed reports from the relevant officials.  

Sunset Boulevard flyover

CM Shah approved Rs650 million on Sunday for the construction of a flyover at Sunset Boulevard. He visited the area to identify the alternate traffic route so that work could be started on the project.

Accompanied by Local Government Minister Jam Khan, Planning & Development Chairman Mohammad Waseem and CM’s Principal Secretary Sohail Rajput, Shah visited the sites of the ongoing road schemes from Metropole to Port Qasim.

The chief executive later told the media that he had inspected all the roads so far constructed, the flyover at Manzil Pump and the underpass at Drigh Road. He expressed complete satisfaction over the quality of work, but he was vocally disappointed with their pace.

Shah said the purpose of his visit was to push the contractors and engineers to expedite the work. “You have to finish them at the earliest because I’m going to launch the 12-billion-rupee second phase of the Karachi package,” he told them.

He said Karachi was the most beautiful city, but its beauty had faded when the government was forced to shift its focus to eliminating terrorists, target killers and extortionists.

“The government is now giving special attention to reconstruction of the city’s infrastructure after dismantling terrorist networks. We’re now focusing on making peace in the metropolis sustainable.”

During his visit to Sharea Faisal, the CM stopped at the Malir section where the road construction has been under way for a long time. He directed the engineers to complete the section at the earliest because it was causing serious problems in smooth flow of traffic.

When he crossed Manzil Pump, he inspected the work on the footpaths being constructed along the road leading to Thatta. He expressed displeasure on the slow pace and directed the works secretary to get in sync within 10 days.

On National Highway at Port Qasim he asked the relevant engineer why the roundabout constructed there was so wide, to which he was told it was for the bigger vehicles. Unsatisfied with the answer, he asked the engineer to get the advice of the Traffic Engineering Bureau.

He also visited the under-construction underpass at Submarine Chowrangi, where the LG minister briefed him about its progress. He told the CM that the quality of work was being maintained but delays in its completion were caused by heavy traffic volume the entire day.

Shah said the quality of work being carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was not good. “I have released all their funds allocated for their development schemes. I urge them to use the funds wisely.”

DUHS rehabilitation centre

“We can create an [Albert] Einstein or a [Stephen] Hawking out of our differently abled children,” said CM Shah while addressing the inauguration of the Multidisciplinary Paediatric Rehab Services Department at the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS).

Shah said Einstein was a late talker while Hawking was paralysed, but they both turned out to be among the most useful people in the world.

Accompanied by Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho and Rajput, the CM said the success stories of Einstein and Hawking were enough to realise that differently abled children could become useful members of society with proper care, coaching, treatment and rehabilitation.

He said he had declared an emergency in the health and education sectors as well as empowered the relevant ministers and secretaries to make important decisions for service deliveries.

He added that he was prepared to set up rehabilitation centres at all the district headquarters hospitals. “The DUHS has the expertise and the spirit to serve children, and the experience to run such centres. Therefore, I’m prepared to establish such centres if you give me the go-ahead.”

He, however, expressed dismay over the area where the DUHS established its rehabilitation centre. He vowed that the area would be rehabilitated by reconstructing the roads, removing encroachments and doing a clean-up of the locality. “This is where I was born and spent my early life. I shall restore it to its past glory.”

Code of conduct for hide collection must be strictly enforced: IGP

The Sindh police chief has called for a comprehensive security contingency plan to be drawn up for Eidul Azha with particular focus on preventing potential tussles over collection of animal hides.   

As per a police spokesman, Sindh IGP AD Khowaja’s directives issued to the officials concerned on Sunday call for a detailed contingency plan with regards to collection of animal hides. 

Khowaja has told the officers to make sure that all registered social welfare organisations, religious seminaries and other stakeholders follow the code of conduct issued by the Sindh government. 

The officers have been ordered to finalise measures at the range, zone and district levels, with the IGP also stressing the need to take all stakeholders on board. 

As for security measures, the officers have been told to compile a list of all mosques, imambarghas, Eidgahs and other places where Eid prayers would be offered. The list would be used to finalise security arrangements which would include deployment of special police commandos.

IGP Khowaja has directed that under the security plan, surveillance teams are also to be constituted at a every police station and personnel in plainclothes are to be deployed at shopping centres, animal markets and other public places. — APP