KARACHI - Following the increased incidents of extortion and targeted-killings in the city, the Sindh government, in consultation with the traders’ bodies, has prepared a comprehensive plan, which include issuing arms’ licences to the traders, deploy additional 500 cops in extortion-affected markets and to give financial compensation to legal heirs of victim traders, who were killed in the city.
These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the CM Secretariat on Saturday, which was attended by a delegation of Karachi traders’ alliance, IG Sindh, DG Rangers and other officials.
The delegation of Karachi Traders’ Alliance presented proposals and suggestions to ensure law and order in the city and protection of the traders from the extortionists.
When contacted, chairman All Karachi Tajir Itehad (Karachi Traders’ Alliance), Ateeq Meer, who led the delegation in meeting with the CM, told TheNation that government promised to prepare a comprehensive plan to combat the situation, eradicate the network of criminals and extortionists and bring the city under complete normalcy at the earliest.
About half dozen decisions were taken in the meeting ranging from issuing licences to the traders and enhancing the number of cops in the markets.
Regarding demand to provide arms license to traders and businessmen, the CM directed the ACS (Home) to issue arms license through trade bodies. 
On the demand of traders’ alliance, the provincial government announced to provide compensation to legal heirs of those traders and businessmen who became victims of terrorists/criminals, for which the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad will furnish details with FIRs on their letter, which will be sent to the chairman of respective commission for the year 2012 incidents.
According to traders, the CM assured them that the locators will soon be installed which will be beneficial for detecting locations of criminals, who contact the traders through their cellular phones for extortion. The installation of locators will start functioning within a week.
The CM also formed a committee comprising of Sindh Police IG and DG Rangers, which will hold meeting with the traders and business community on fortnightly basis, besides the CM himself try to hold meeting with them on monthly basis.
It was also decided in the meeting that the IGP would not change the posting of police staff posted at pickets and police chowkies in the jurisdictions of bazaars and markets without consultation of trade bodies, besides the process of installation of 1,000 surveillance cameras in various localities, trade commercial centres and business markets will be functional within few days.
The meeting further decided that government will make full efforts for safe recovery of abducted traders, who have been kidnapped for ransom.
Besides, government decided to activate two separate complaint cells at the Chief Minister House with toll free number 919 and the other at IG Police Sindh (CPO) Office, as well as CPLC and National Crisis Management Cells are also functioning to control the crime and extortionists. A hotline will be established for traders, who can approach the CM directly at any time, while Principal Secretary to CM Agha Jan Akhtar will be the focal person for contact and coordination in this regard.
Meanwhile, official statement said that Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that it was prime duty of the police, Rangers and law-enforcment agencies to control the law and order in the province particularly in Karachi. He said that police and Rangers had already been directed to curb the menace of criminals, extortionists, robbers and anti-state elements with iron hand.
Meanwhile, the IGP informed that under a new plan, the strategy has been evolved under experience and current situation. He informed that 500 police personnel have been added and arranged from other parts of the province.
Qaim directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department to consider and implement the proposals of traders’ body for their protection. He said that the law and order meeting would soon be held to take appropriate steps for curbing the crime from the city.
Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah assured that staff at various police pickets and chowkies will be further improved particularly in old city trade centres, while 1,000 surveillance cameras are being installed soon in various localities, trade commercial centres and business markets. He said that those cameras are being tested and will be functional within few days.
Deputy Director General Rangers Sindh Brig Muhammad Rafique Khan informed the steps taken against extortionists. He said that rangers had established seven Crime Reporting Centres in various localities, including Landhi, Korangi, Bin Qasim, Nazimabad and two centres at Site areas.
He said that the Rangers received 33 complaints from October 2011 to March 2012 and all were addressed. He added that the during concerted efforts from June 1 to June 16, 2012, at least 11 criminals involved in extortion have been arrested while during various raids, big quantity of arms and ammunition have been recovered.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Enam Memon, ACS (Home) and others also spoke in the meeting.
The meeting was attended by 8-member delegation of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad led by its Chairman Ateeq Meer, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, IG Police Sindh Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Sindh Rangers Deputy Director General Brig Muhammad Rafique Khan, Principal Secretary to CM Agha Jan Akhtar, Additional IG Police Karachi and traders’ representatives.