Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Last date for arms registration extended by 15 days: 7-day deadline set for removing illegal barriers

The Sindh Home Department has sent a warning for the removal of illegal barriers within the next seven days while the deadline for arms registration across the province has also been extended for another 15 days. The department issued two separate notifications on Monday pertaining to the removal of illegal barriers and weapon registration. Earlier the government had set December 20 as the last day for the registration of arms but now the deadline has been extended by another 15 days according to the new notification.
An advertising campaign is also being run in this regard. Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department has warned citizens to remove illegal street barriers in various parts of the city. If the barriers are not removed, an operation will be launched within the next seven days, mentioned the notification. According to sources, the intelligence agencies have already provided a survey report regarding the illegal barriers and there is a possibility that the operation will be conducted phase wise.
The government took these decisions after the three days of violence that claimed 40 lives. Advisor to the Prime Minister on home affairs Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah jointly chaired a meeting in this regard. Federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman and other high-ranking officials of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting.A committee under the supervision of the Sindh home minister was also formed on this occasion. The committee will monitor and review the situation in Karachi in order to maintain peace. All these steps were agreed upon to make Karachi a safe city and ensure calm in the coming days.While the government has served the notification regarding the removal of illegal barriers, citizens have expressed concern.
Citizens have erected the barriers in order to prevent street crime as the police and government have failed to maintain law and order in this regard. The citizens feel that once these barriers are removed, street crimes will increase again. Meanwhile, foolproof security plans for Quaid-e-Azam day, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are also being made. A meeting was held at the Sindh Rangers headquarter regarding the law and order situation in the province. Security measures for these occasions were reviewed while law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert in Karachi.

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