Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar chaired the 30th provincial Apex Committee meeting at CM House to review election arrangements and national action plan tasks. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Brig (R ) Haris Nawaz, Omar Soomro, Ahmad Shah, Corps Commander Lt. Gen Babar Iftikhar, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, DG Rangers Major Gen Azhar Waqas, IG Police Riffat Mukhtar, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Chairman P&D Shakil Mangnejo, Home Secretary Iqbal memon, PG Fayaz Shah, Election 2024: During the Apex committee meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the arrangements for the upcoming election.
The committee was informed that there would be a total of 19,008 polling stations, including 5,657 normal, 6,550 sensitive, and 6,801 highly sensitive ones. IG Police Riffat Mukhtar shared the police deployment criteria, stating that four police personnel would be deployed at a normal polling station, five at a sensitive one, and seven at a highly sensitive polling station. A total of 143,156 police personnel would be deployed at the polling stations, including 95,400 at the normal polling stations, 10,648 in the QRF Police, and 37,108 in the Auxiliary Force. Additionally, the Rangers and Army would be deployed for QRF duties at selected highly sensitive polling stations, in addition to the police force. Corps Commander Karachi Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar informed the Chief Minister that army troops had been dispatched all over the province to serve as the third tier during the general elections.
The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction with the election arrangements and mentioned that he had personally visited the divisional headquarters of the province to review the arrangements. The regional election commissioners present at the meeting also expressed their satisfaction with all the arrangements, including security ones. Street Crime: The CM pointed out that in November 2023 the situation of street crime was disturbed, On average 265 per day street crimes were reported, 15 Madadgar responses were slow (more than 10 mins), Police Vehicles were in dismal condition, and Organized crime was unchecked. At this the IG said that a dedicated motorcycle squad of 386 Motorcycles known as Shaheed Force has been established for spotting peak hours and hot spots.
He added that Madadgar-15 has been revamped with the deployment of an additional 300 vehicles and 120 Motorbikes. Efforts are in hand with Google and Apple through the European Emergency Number Association – EENA112 for exact locations for the provision of AML (Advance Mobile Location), Riffiat Mukhtar disclosed. He added that a dedicated application would be launched by Feb 10 for dialling through Android and IOS App for exact locations. 30 New computer terminals and eight large screens have been added in the call centre for the visibility of force. The Call agents are trained twice by the University of Karachi on Empathy.
Engagement with Street Criminals has been increased, the IG Police said and added that from Sep-23 to Jan-24 581 Encounters were made in which 71 Criminals were killed, 615 Criminals injured, 1037 arrested red-handed. As a result, Street Crime has decreased by 4.19 per cent during 2023. IG Police said that per day average street crimes have decreased to 213- which means 19 per cent [decreased]. Katcha areas:
The meeting was told that overall law & order has improved in katcha areas, especially on the left bank of the River Indus. The crimes under major heads as kidnapping for ransom (KFR), dacoity and robbery are under control. patrolling and picketing have been enhanced, IG Police said that the district Kashmore was disturbed due to ongoing action against dacoits.
The dacoits challenge the law enforcement agencies with more attacks and KFRs to exert pressure to retreat. DG Rangers Major Gen Azhar Waqas told the meeting that the Rangers also conducted 47 Intelligence Based Operations in the katcha areas and arrested 145 dacoits/ criminals, confiscated over 86 Weapons along with 5248 ammunition rounds. He added that 10 additional check posts and one Base camp have been established to secure movement on the Indus Highway/ National Highway.
