20000326

IGP proposes

to abolish

4,000 vacancies

KARACHI: Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh, Aftab Nabi, said on Saturday that the Government is being sent a proposal to abolish the existing 4000 vacancies in Sindh Police and utilise a budget of Rs 194 million so saved for the improvement of the operational side.

Speaking at a luncheon meeting of Rotary Club Downtown the IGP said that if this proposal is accepted, the saved, amount will help in improvement the police's existing resources as well as its performance on account of its equipment, transport, building and stationery.

He pointed out that at present only 7 percent of the police budget is being spent on its operational activities which is insignificant.

Replying to a question the IGP said after ban on arms, a comprehensive planning will be done to cleanse the society of weapons. The illegal arms would be fully recovered so that a peaceful environment is established.

He told the Rotarians that there had been a satisfactory decline in cases of snatching and lifting of vehicles. The number has come down from 40-45 a day in 1997-98 to 10-15 as today.

He said on receipt of a report about snatching or lifting of a car, immediate action is taken by police. However, in cases where slackness is shown by concerned official, action is taken against them.

The IGP pointed out that because of financial crisis, the police personnel who used to get two pairs of uniform earlier, were now getting only one uniform. The traffic police do not get any share from driving licence fee whereas additional expenses on stationery, lamination, printing and driving test are borne by the police, he said.

Aftab Nabi said a plan was under consideration whereby youth involved in minor offences will be reformed through NGOs so as to make them useful members of the society.

He said under community police service, a programme has been chalked out for establishment of schools and free medical and eye camps. Such camps have been conducted in the interior of Sindh as well.

In his address on the occasion, the provincial police chief spoke in detail about a new strategy for policing in Karachi as well as the eventful days of the last 16 years when Karachi was transformed totally from a peaceful and bustling city to what some people call one of the most violent cities.

He pointed out that during this period Karachi remained under turmoil, the gun culture infested the city in the wake of Afghan war and it coincided with sectarian riots followed by ethnic riots symbolised by Bushra Zaidi case of 1985.