KARACHI: Sindh police IG Dr Syed Kaleem Imam said on Tuesday that the law enforcement agency was planning to centralise all nine training centres across the province to ensure uniformity in training and results.

Speaking at the concluding day session of the two-day workshop and conference titled Investigation Training Working Group organised by the Sindh police in a local hotel, he said there were 43 training centres across the country, out of which nine were situated in Sindh.

“Measures to centralise all training centres in province are under way to ensure same training,” he said. “The Sindh government and the chief secretary have always supported the Sindh police in its efforts for overall improvement of the department. This workshop is aimed at increasing the investigating capabilities of Sindh police officers besides improving their overall abilities.”

Sindh chief secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah also attended the concluding ceremony of the workshop as the chief guest.

Addressing the participants in the workshop, he said that organising such a workshop was a step towards improving investigations and policing affairs.

“This workshop would help bring the investigations standard to modern lines. Such workshops will help increase professional capabilities of investigators besides these would also help improve criminal justice system,” added Mr Shah.

Addressing the inaugural session, Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the Sindh government was committed to improving both the investigations and operational affairs of the Sindh police.

The minister said that police investigations department was separated from the operational matters under the Police Order 2002 which aimed at improving the both at their best.

“The Sindh government is making efforts to improve overall affairs of the Sindh police while the welfare amount for the Sindh police martyrs was also raised up to Rs10 million,” he said.

“In the past, police convoys were being provided for security to the influential, but this practice had been eliminated now. The Sindh IG is performing well and has been improving his department with vast experience.”

Addressing the same session, Sindh IG Dr Imam said the conference was aimed at increasing investigating capabilities of investigators and that the Sindh police believed in capacity building of its officer and personnel.

He said as many as nine training institutes were imparting training to officials of Sindh police.

He said that heads of 15 relevant agencies shared their experiences regarding investigation.

The training also aimed at improving the standard of investigation. Resolving a case and proving an accused guilty in courts were separate matters however improving the both was the need of the hour.

He said that all-out efforts were being made for improving the overall policing in the province.

He said that the conference was aimed at increasing capabilities of police officers, including their speaking power, public relations, utilisation of their abilities, investigation at crime scenes and others.

While separately talking to media and sharing details about the measures for security during Muharram and overall law and order situation, he said that the police were effectively handing all challenges.

He said that 87 threats were received by the Sindh police this year and the police responded swiftly to each one of them and teams were formed and suspects were arrested.

“Over 14,000 Majalis will be provided with security by the Sindh police across the province during Muharram. As many as 4,000 vehicles and thousands of personnel would perform security duties in the month,” he said.

“The Muharram security strategy is constituted with coordination of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh and other relevant agencies. To ensure provision of security to citizens in a better way, the police are focusing on improvement of its intelligence.”

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2019