Decision to give police powers to FC

KARACHI: After the Rangers, the Frontier Constabulary (FC) have also been given police powers in the city, while the Rangers have been directed to take action in troubled areas, Geo News reported. These decisions were taken during a meeting on the law and order situation in the city held at the Chief Minister House. The meeting was jointly chaired by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. A statement issued by the CM house read that Rangers and police had also been directed to take immediate action against miscreants and this action would continue until these elements were eliminated. Participants of the meeting appealed to residents, religious and political parties to play their part in restoring and maintaining peace in the city. PPI adds: Inspector General of Police Sindh Wajid Ali Durrani told the meeting that the police have so far arrested 91 alleged target killers who have confessed of killing about 161 people. He said more arrests are also on the cards and investigators of hopeful of extracting useful information from them to nab the criminal networks involved in the Karachi carnage. The meeting was told that some criminal elements were working under the patronage of various political parties. It asked the police to initiate probe against them and get their credentials verified from the concerned political parties. Moreover, police was asked to concentrate on fieldwork to fight crime. In this regard it was decided that every DIG/SSP would visit police stations at least twice a week. They would scrutinize the performance of every SHO and submit report to the IGP. This report would be submitted to the IGP and Home Secretary on every fortnight. The meeting decided to award Rs5mn cash reward to any person who provided police information about any target killer. If photographs or video of a target killer provided to the police, the cash award would be Rs10mn. Moreover, the identity of the informer would be kept secret. Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Abdul Rehman Malik urged the law enforcing officers to improve their performance and get Karachi rid of violence and targeted killings. Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan, acting DG Rangers, Additional Chief Secretary (home) and senior police officers attended the meeting.