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CE asks police to be 'very alert'

KARACHI: With reference to the recent incidents of bomb blasts in Karachi and other cities, Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to remain very alert and enhance their efficiency.

This was stated by Interior Minister Moin Uddin Haider, while briefing newsmen at the Governor House here on Sunday night after Chief Executive chaired a three-hour long meeting to discuss the law and order situation.

He said that the recent series of bomb blasts in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan was regretful and expressed the government's deep sorrow over the loss of lives in these incidents.

He said that the support of the masses is also essential in this respect and that the people would have to be trained through the media.

Moin said that the people at every level, whether they are in the mosques, bazars and bus terminals should remain a little alert and notice the presence of any unaccompanied packet.

He said that phone lines should be available so that such devices could be defused in time.

The Interior Minister said: "we are seeing that our enemy country is very active these days to show Pakistan as a terrorist state so that investment could not come here."

He said, "It is obvious that the enemy country is using people from within our own country by giving them money. Our efforts will be to nab such persons and expose them."

Moin said that public support is a must to expose such elements.

He stated that Sunday evening's meeting at the Governor House here also continued for over three hours. IGP briefed on the law and order in Sindh with special reference to Karachi.

The assessment as well as the difficulties and suggestions were also presented. The problems were highlighted, measures were discussed as to what short and long-term steps should be taken for bringing about improvement.

Moin said problems pertained to image of the police and their performance, investigations of cases, skills of prosecution, attitudes etc.

He said the Chief Executive gave a clear instruction that there should be a distinct change in the attitude of police and that disciplinary action should be initiated wherever there is dereliction or weakness.

With regard to public complaints, it was decided that at appropriate level of district 'mohallah amn committees' would be formed and these committees would consist of the notables to be proposed by the people themselves.

Moin Uddin Haider said that these committees will have access to DCs, SDMs and SHOs.

He stated that the monitoring cell would also monitor the functioning of these committees. Their complaints about police would be heard and these would be rectified on the ground.

Moin said that there is a suggestion that a magistrate, an army officer from the monitoring cell and a notable should inspect every police station at least once in a month. Similarly, every jail would be visited every month, he added. APP