Sharif backs strengthening of police in Karachi

Karachi: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said police force in Pakistan`s biggest city of Karachi would be strengthened with additional recruitments to improve the law and order situation here. Sharif`s orders came just two days after more than a dozen people, including women and children, were killed in armed clashes between rival gangs in the troubled Lyari area of the city. Sharif today chaired a high level meeting in Karachi to review the law and order situation. After the meeting, he said much more needs to be done to clean up the city of criminals and militants. "Karachi operation will continue. The sacrifices rendered by our security agencies are invaluable. Karachi operation is not a routine issue for the government and I will regularly monitor and supervise operation and will help the provincial government in resolving their issues," he said.

The Prime Minister was also given a detailed briefing on the law and order situation in the lawless Lyari area. He approved the recruitment of more people in Sindh police and the establishment of new police stations in Lyari. On the recommendation of D G (Rangers) he directed that in order to ensure merit and transparency, Army Recruitment Centers should be engaged to facilitate police recruitments. "Recruitments should be purely on merit, without any favouritism," he said. Sharif agreed that in view of security threats to witnesses, investigators, prosecutors and judges involved in anti-terrorism cases, the courts should be shifted to Malir Cantonment. The premier said there was also a need to improve the coordination mechanism under which there would be greater border control, intelligence sharing and combating terrorism. The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Distagir, Chief Secretary Sindh, Inspector General of Police Sindh and Director General of Intelligence Bureau.