Karachi – Staff Reporter:
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed met with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in Karachi on Thursday. The two discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the province as well as the ongoing anti-bandit operation in Shikarpur at length. The interior secretary, Sindh chief secretary and provincial police chief were also in attendance in the meeting. CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah said people used to travel in convoys in Sindh due to the potential danger of getting robbed but in 2007, the PPP government cleared highways of bandits by launching a grand operation.
The law and order situation in Karachi had also worsened with several localities turned into no-go areas for citizens, he maintained. The CM said the entire province from Guddu to Kotri Barrage is katcha area with forests stretching over six kilometres. On May 23, police recovered eight hostages from the katcha area in Shikarpur, he pointed out.
CM Murad said that bandits attacked the police personnel after the armoured personnel carriers (APCs) they were in broke down, as a result of which two cops were martyred.
“You are the interior minister. You can come here whenever you want,” the chief minister was reported as telling Sheikh Rasheed. “We will work together and we welcome you in Sindh.”
Sheikh Rasheed assured Murad of extending all possible cooperation saying the Rangers are at the provincial government’s disposal and it can utilize the services of the paramilitary force in the anti-dacoit operation. He suggested that terrorism cases be registered against dacoits.
CM Murad further asked the interior minister for help in procurement of necessary equipment for the security forces. He reiterated that the provincial government will clean the Katcha area of bandits.
Separately, Sheikh Rasheed said that the federal government will ensure provision of all resources to the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to maintain the law and order.
According to the details, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed made these remarks during a briefing given to him on the law and order situation at the Sindh Rangers Headquarters in Karachi.
On the occasion, the Interior Minister said that the federal government will take all necessary measures to protect the lives and properties of the masses. Lauding the role of Sindh Rangers in restoring peace in Karachi, Rasheed termed the metropolis backbone of the country’s economy and vowed to maintain law and order in the port city.
