KARACHI: Security agencies have made important leads in the murder case of Amjad Sabri and kidnapping of Owais Ali Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said in address in the Sindh Assembly on Saturday.
The chief minister said that some people have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah’s son Owais Ali Shah.
He added that police have also made leads in the Amjad Sabri murder case. “Some suspects have made confessions regarding the Sabri’s murder,” he said.
He announced compensation of Rs10 million for Amjad Sabri’s children. He also offered employment for Amjad Sabri’s widow and free education for his children.
The chief minister said a nine-member committee had been formed for Owais Shah’s kidnapping.
Speaking about the Karachi Operation he said that the provincial government had given autonomy to DG Rangers and IG Police. “However during the operation citizens should not be disturbed,” he said.
He added that the last three Eids had passed peacefully in Karachi.
However he lamented that law enforcers sometimes create unnecessary problems. “The Federal Investigation Agency harassed the government, raided Civic Centre and took away 16000 files,” he said.
On a lighter note he said that he did not know how to use a gun, “and security forces have nominated me in 29 murder cases”.
The Chief Minister said security situation in Sindh’s capital was ok before the last two incidents that include Sabri’s killing and abduction of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah’s son, Owais Ali Shah.
Chief Minister Shah further recalled that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had stated that terrorists are likely to take shelter in Karachi after Operation Zarb-e-Azb in Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
He thanked the army chief for helping in law and order in Karachi. Similarly he said the Prime Minister has also appreciated improvement in law and order situation.
He said the cases of target killings, extortion, terrorist activities and kidnapping for ransom have significantly come down. He said there are presently two cases of kidnapping for ransom as compared to hundreds three years ago. He said in target killings, 400 policemen and 40 rangers embraced martyrdom. He said police has been provided modern training and now its members were ready to take bullets on their chest than avoiding to challenge the criminals few years ago.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that last year Rs 60 billion were spent on police force and 20,000 constables were inducted through public service commission without political consideration.
He contradicted allegations of indulging in political vindictiveness and said they always worked for supremacy of law and that is the reason that law and order has been restored. He said it is not correct that large number of people have been killed in operation and said that maximum killings took place in Lyari, Mangopir and Malir, the areas not having majority of urdu speaking.
He said after raid at Nine Zero, there were slogans of “Go rangers go”. He said those arrested from Nine Zero included persons involved in killing of a journalist. He said target killings take place in Peshawar almost daily but there are no calls for strike, a reference to MQM’s calls for similar calls in Karachi.
Opposition MQM protested when the Chief Minister referred to the incident of 12th May when former Chief Justice visited Karachi.
