KARACHI, Dec 5: The Sindh government has issued an ultimatum to residents of various localities for immediate removal of all illegal barricades put up on different streets of the city.

It has also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to all arms holders to either get their weapons registered or surrender the illegal weapons to the area police.

Those who fail to get their weapons registered within the deadline will be prosecuted.

These decisions were made at a high-level meeting which was presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and attended among others by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik at the Chief Minister’s House on Friday.

The meeting reviewed the law and order situation in the province with particular reference to Karachi. It was decided that violation of laws, display of weapons and attempt to damage public and private property would not be tolerated.

The meeting was informed that the federal government would hand over bullet-proof jackets, helmets and other equipment to the home department on the Sindh government’s demand on Saturday.

It was decided that other requirements of the police, including special perks and privileges, would also be met soon, as the committee constituted under the home minister would determine within three days the special perks and privileges for police.

The interior adviser asked the director-general of the Rangers to set up a joint picket with the police in the red zone area to keep a watchful eye on terrorists. He made it clear that no interference in the administration of law and order would be tolerated.

The meeting decided that no organisation would be allowed to take the law into its hands and participants of the meeting appealed to people to realise their national duty at this hour of trial and join hands to thwart threats posed by “foreign agents”.

Steps for registration of people coming from abroad, particularly those slipping in illegally, were also discussed and the National Aliens Registration Authority (Nara) was directed to send its weekly report to the interior ministry and the home department.

Talking about encroachment and land issues, the chief minister made it clear that pieces of land, whether allotted to individuals or institutions by the government, belonged to the Sindh government which had the allotment cancellation rights.

The meeting also showed its concern over what it described as the “irresponsible attitude” of the electronic media during the recent riots and decided to approach the institutions concerned in this regard.

Appreciating the performance of the chief minister and the home minister for restoring law and order despite a resource constraint, the meeting took certain important decisions to maintain law and order during Eid-ul-Azha and Moharram.

Earlier, the meeting offered Fateha for the late Benazir Bhutto and those who lost their lives during the recent riots in the city.

Those who attended the meeting included Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Chief Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, DG Rangers Maj-Gen Liaquat Ali, IG Police Babar Khattak, and the principal secretaries to the governor and the chief minister, Mumtaz-ur-Rehman and Sohail Akbar Shah, respectively.