LARKANA: “Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Rashid Godil had indeed been provided police guards for his personal security, but he transferred their services to someone else without informing the competent authority,” claimed Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal while speaking to the media after presiding over a meeting of SSPs and other officers of the Larkana range police on Wednesday.

He was asked for his comment on an alleged security lapse leading to an attempt on the life of Mr Godil in Karachi on Tuesday and the fact that the MNA was without any police or private guard when he was targeted by armed men riding a motorcycle in an upscale busy area of the city. The MNA had served as the MQM parliamentary party leader in the National Assembly and was replaced with Dr Farooq Sattar 10 days before he was attacked.

The home minister was of the view that the motive for the assassination bid was to shatter the peaceful atmosphere obtaining in Karachi. However, he said, the government was firm in its resolve to frustrate the evil designs of Mr Godil’s attackers. “They will be brought to justice,” he added.

Insisting that the government was not to blame for the lawmaker’s remaining exposed to threats, Mr Siyal said adequate personal security to him would certainly have been provided had he asked for it. “All MQM lawmakers are being provided adequate security and they remain in touch with me in the face of threats they are exposed to,” he added.

Mr Siyal said that ministers were supposed to keep police informed about their movement so that the SSP concerned could ensure their safety. All SSPs had already been directed to ensure proper security arrangements for ministers, he said.

Speaking at the meeting of senior police officers of the Larkana range, the home minister said that more sophisticated weapons would be procured during the current financial year and provided to police personnel to counter terrorists.

“A team of police officers proficient in law are working on a draft meant to improve the Police Order (PO),” he said, adding that once the draft was given the final shape, it would be tabled in the assembly for approval. The aim was to remove all lacunae in the PO.

The minister said the performance of the police department was improving as law and order in Sindh had become better than other provinces.

Sources privy to the meeting said that it decided in principle to launch another big operation against dacoits in the Larkana range.

Larkana DIG Dr Saen Rakhiyo Mirani told the meeting that crime rate in this region was on the decline as reflected in facts and figures. Since Jan 1 till date, 225 murder cases were reported as compared to 351 reported in the corresponding period of last year. The honour killing cases also declined to 34 as against 67, he added.

The DIG said that despite facing serious threats from dreaded dacoit gangs led by Wishoon Chandio, Sulto Shar and others, the Larkana range police would launch an operation against them.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2015

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