CM tells police to set goals after consulting stakeholders

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said Thursday maintaining law and order and ensuring security of the citizens was his government’s top priority, but that could only be achieved in letter and spirit when the police would formulate short-term and long-term goals in consultation with stakeholders and present them for the consideration of the government.

He was speaking at RETREAT, a strategic workshop and exhibition organised by the Sindh police, at a hotel in Karachi. The seminar was attended by adviser on information Murtaza Wahab, senior police officers and members of the civil society.

The chief minister said it was the responsibility of the provincial government to maintain law and order to ensure security of the citizens, and for achieving this objective the police organisation had to formulate short-term and long-term goals in consultation with various stakeholders and present them for the consideration of the government.

He said the workshop (RETREAT) appeared to be a constructive step in that direction. He added that the workshop would help the police to assess their capacity, resources and effectiveness, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Policing the world over was a challenging profession, he said. “The police is the primary agency responsible to reduce and control crime and ensure public safety,” he said.

Shah said that such strategic workshops provided an opportunity for officers and stakeholders alike to engage, consult, introspect and coordinate for the formulation of strategies to help achieve key policing goals.

“I am sure the agenda for the workshop has provided the basis for brainstorming by the participants. Coming together and sharing of such rich experiences ranging from hardcore policing functions to different thematic areas augurs well for the utility of this retreat exercise.”

In a lighter venin, the chief minister stated that the entire police force had been invited to the seminar and there was no policeman on the street for policing. He added that on Thursday (today) only one murder had been reported from all over Sindh. “This is the lowest in the recent trend and I am sure this law and order will be maintained in this way,” he said.

Shah advised the Sindh inspector general of police to visit all police regions, meet his juniors, encourage them to ensure better policing, and also involve the civil society in the development of the community police.

He said that the IGP and his team would benefit greatly from this two-day exercise. “A meaningful dialogue must lead to achievable targets, and an increased efficiency in the performance of the Sindh police.”