Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza, while terming it a ‘good news’, said that the Sindh government has started work devising a new Police Act in order to resolve the policing issues under the existing obsolete Police Act 1861. Speaking at a meeting during her visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, Deputy Speaker added that instead of complaining in front of the society about the obsolete Police Act 1861, IG Sindh A.D. Khowaja should have taken up and discussed this issue with the government.
Chairman Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairman BMG Haroon Farooki, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, Former Presidents KCCI AQ Khalil and Abdullah Zaki, Chairperson of Women Entrepreneurs Sub-Committee Durre Shahwar Nisar, Chairman of Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition Muhammad Idrees and KCCI Managing Committee members attended the meeting.
Shehla Raza further informed that Sindh government was focusing on improving the standard of police department and maximum funds were being allocated in this regard. There was a time when a petty amount of just 200,000 to 300,000 was given to heirs of the martyrs of police department which has been raised to Rs2 million while the pay scale of police force has also been improved, she added.
She said that as compared to other provinces, Sindh has devised and implemented some of the best and maximum number of legislations including the recent legislations to deal with domestic violence, under-age marriage, under-age labor and harassment at workplace etc. “We are also working closely with USAID to improve water management, health and education in Sindh”, she added.
Commenting on the grievances being faced by masses due to development work in Karachi, she said that a total of 25 development projects were simultaneously underway all over Karachi city which was the reason for numerous problems being suffered by Karachiites. However, Sindh government was striving hard to minimize the hardships, ensure safety of public and complete all these projects within the shortest possible time, she added.
Appreciating the efforts being made by Karachi Chamber to promote the positive image of Karachi city by regularly holding My Karachi Exhibition, Shehla Raza said that it was really heartening to note that Karachi Chamber has continued to regularly hold this event even in such circumstances when the entire city’s law and order situation was at its worst, which makes Karachi Chamber really a true Pakistani, she added.
Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President Siraj Kassam Teli, in his remarks, pointed out that the Police Act 1861 was devised by the British rulers some 150 years ago with an intention to control the public but this Act was not valid in the prevailing circumstances, hence it has to be replaced with a new and improved Police Act.
He recalled that the obsolete Police Act 1861 was replaced by Police Order 2002 during Gen. Musharraf’s rule which also contained some flaws but it was much better. Unfortunately, this Police Order was suspended and destroyed by all politicians belonging to PPP and MQM whereas the obsolete Police Act 1861 was reinstated, creating severe policing issues.
Instead of reinstating Police Act 1861, the government should have continued with Police Order 2002 with some amendments which were required to deal with some of its flaws, he added.
Earlier President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, while expressing deep concerns over deteriorating law and order situation, said that although the situation improved during the last three years but nowadays it seems that the law and order situation has started worsening again which was really alarming for the business and industrial community.
“Street crimes were taking place at some of the busiest markets of the city even in broad day light, which terribly affect local businesses as people prefer not to visit these markets for shopping”, he said, adding that Sindh government must take strict notice of the situation and take stringent steps to deal with rising street crimes.
President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, while appreciating Shehla Raza’s constant support and participation in My Karachi Exhibition since 2004, invited the Deputy Speaker to attend this year’s exhibition as well which was scheduled to be staged on April 7th, 8th & 9th April 2017 at Expo Center. On the occasion, special prayers were offered for the victims of Thursday’s Lahore blast in which a senior BMGIAN Moazzam Hayat Paracha was also amongst those who were martyred in this incident.