Karachi traffic police directed to be polite: CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed

CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed directed on Sunday to officials of City Traffic police to improve their attitude with the public.

Karachi CCPO, addressing to the officials of city traffic in Karachi Arts Council, directed police to improve their image in the public by behaving politely with them.

He ordered the police to act without discrimination against violators of law.

At around 40 places in the city with the help of 200 cameras command and control systems have been established by which performance of police is analyzed, he added. (SAMAA)

13 confirmed dead in Karachi mourners attack

Karachi law enforcement officials have confirmed 13 casualties in an apparent suicide attack on a minibus here on Friday noon. Dr Semi Jamali, incharge emergency ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, told the newsmen that at least 11 dead bodies and nearly 40 wounded have so far been brought to the medical facility.

According to preliminary reports, a bus of route 52-A was bringing mourners from Jaffar Taeyyar society of Malir area to main Muharram procession presently being underway at M A Jinnah road. When the ill-fated bus reached Shahrah-e-Quaideen from Nursery flyover a motorcycle, apparently-laden with explosives, rammed into the bus with a loud bang, CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed informed news channel on telephone. Emergency has been declared at nearby Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center where at least 12 wounded have so far been rushed by the emergency relief staffers. Police and Rangers have reached the scene and the blast site has been cordoned off for general public.

CCPO KARACHI WASEEM AHMED, POLICE OFFICERS MONITOR 9TH MUHARRAM PROCESSION THROUGH COMMAND & CONTROL CENTER

City administration has been facilitated greatly due to the availability of Command & Control Center and surveillance cameras in its monitoring the area from Nishter Park to Tower during Muharram-ul-Haram. So far city government has installed 275 video cameras on different locations and 100 more will be installed within a week. No one can abolish this system in future as any such attempt would be resisted by the people who have owned this system.

This was stated by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal while talking to media representatives on Saturday at Command & Control Center. Earlier he reviewed the city condition specially the situation at Nishter Park and M.A Jinnah Road during the 9th Muharram procession and afterwards attended the procession at M.A Jinnah Road and met with the organizers and religious leaders.

The CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed along with SSP Dr. Aamir Yousuf Zai and other police officers were also present on this occasion and inspected the main procession from the screens of command and control room.

City Nazim said that the present day challenges could not be dealt without using latest technology. City Government has provided this facility to administration that has helped and enabled them to monitor the condition of city during Muharram-ul-Haram. He said that the Nishter Park was now regarded as the key place for holding of religious and other people’s gatherings. This system was not specific to Muharram and has been established on permanent basis. All the entrance routes of Nishter Park and its internal area were being monitored completely.

City Nazim said that not only this system was helping the police but was also used to control the fire brigade, ambulance service 1122 and city wardens who are also on the ground. He said that the system could record the data for next 10 years and its capacity was being enhanced on regular basis. The area from Airport to Metropole Hotel and from Saddar to Safoora Chowk(Corridor III) will also include in the coverage area within a week.

The CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed on this occasion said that the city government’s command and control system was supported by latest technology and has been proved effective and helpful for Karachi Police. He said that the surveillance system could save the city from any possible terrorist act and the police and other law enforcement agencies could be informed instantly in case of any emergency situation. He also acknowledged the help and coordination received by police from the town nazmeen and the town administration in Karachi.

BAN ON PILLION RIDING: Citizens lose Rs 15 mln daily

By S J A Jafri

It is said that there were no plans by the government to lift ban on pillion riding as the prevailing situation was not conducive for it these days.
According to an expert of transport, more than five lac people daily travel with pillion riders on motorcycles and scooters. A rough estimate indicates that without pillion riding, the to and fro double fare from and to home and desired destination daily costs at least Rs 30 per person. This was a huge benefit for the public transporters who get extra passengers in buses, and also an extra income allegedly with a share in the booty meant for the police too, the expert said.
The transport expert said if the figure of Rs 30 is multiplied with five lack, the cost comes to Rs 1.5 crore daily, and if this is taken to a month it becomes Rs 45 crores in a month. In eight months with ban on pillion riding, the transporters have allegedly minted more than Rs 360 crores.
The transport expert said: This a transport and police mafia which has forced the government to impose ban on pillion riding and this was causing huge benefit to transporters.

The transport mafia is getting full benefit and it is alleged that they have paid huge bribes to police and Home Department to impose ban on pillion riding.
The Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza after imposing ban since last eight months may not have fully considered how much citizens of Karachi are suffering, with this daily cost of Rs 1.5 crore daily they have to pay in fares.
The heavy rainfalls in city also caused more agony for the citizens as the transporters withdrew their buses and commuters faced hardships at bus stops.
The government’s reason to impose ban on pillion riding was reported to be the fear of terrorists, suicidal attacks and targeted killings carried out with help of pillion riding too. However, CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed has recently already said that targeted killing was on the rise in Karachi.
There is already shortage of public transport in the city as 1200 khatara buses are no good to ply whereas at least 2500 buses are required for commuters who were forced to travel on roof tops of the buses and mini-buses, packed inside as the poor and middle class people travel daily in the buses and mini-buses.
There is no ban on pillion riding in any part of the country though law and order situation was bad in many other different parts. A member of NGO said Karachiites are being victimized as a result of the ban on the pillion riding. (NC)