PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari has directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to launch a large-scale operation against street criminals in Karachi, dacoits in the Katcha area and drug traffickers throughout the province in close coordination with other provinces. Chairing a special meeting to review law and order situation in the province, he issued a number of directives to restore law and order in Sindh, particularly the provincial capital, amid rising violent street crimes.
The very fact that the President chaired a special comprehensive meeting to review the law and order situation and before that he got input from a delegation of MQM, which has been agitating over deteriorating security environment in the province especially in urban area is reflective of Mr. Zardari’s desire to address the problem in a holistic manner. The CM referred to the Iranian President’s visit to the provincial metropolis, Pakistan Super League (PSL) and international cricket matches and peaceful organization of religious events as a proof of improved law and order situation but these events took place in tight security arrangements, which are not available to the common man or for daily routines like smooth business and industrial activities. Street crime is a common issue of all urban centres but it is more serious in Karachi and there is no visible improvement despite measures like making Shaheen Force functional and restructuring Madadgar 15 in Karachi besides provision of 168 cars and 120 vehicles to the police. The situation can meaningfully improve if law-enforcing agencies, as directed by the President, carry out genuine raids at places used for trading of stolen goods, implement safe city project urgently, beef up security for Chinese nationals, show zero tolerance for land grabbing and a sustained operation against katcha bandits in close coordination with Punjab and Balochistan.
