HYDERABAD, Dec 30: The DPO of Hyderabad, Imran Shaukat, has said that the presence of caretaker Sindh Chief minister Justice (retd) Abdul Qadir Halepoto in Hyderabad on Dec 27, when around 900 security personnel were deployed for his protocol, had prevented police from regrouping and mobilising itself to combat violence.

He said that policemen were deployed from the airport to Hatri on that day when the city witnessed an unprecedented violence. He further said that 150 policemen had been dismissed from service for not turning up for duty after the violence broke out.

Addressing a news conference at Madadgar 15 office on Sunday evening, the DPO also announced that a committee had been formed to assess losses caused to life and property of people in two-day violence.

The committee, he said, would comprise DPO, DCO, representatives of business community and citizens.

The DPO admitted that enormous losses had been caused to people during the last two days. He said that the committee would submit its recommendations to Sindh government subsequently.

He said that even the Sindh chief minister had to be moved to Hyderabad Garrison for purpose of security.

He said that directives have been issued to lodge cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against arsonists while cases of victims would be lodged as to loss of their property or life so that compensation could be paid by government whenever announced. He said that 99 per cent normalcy had returned to the city and six petrol pumps had been opened and are provided security.

“Our system had been completely paralysed on December 27, since 900 of our forces were engaged in protocol duty of caretaker Sindh chief minister and it did take some time to regroup them. Our force doesn’t live in accommodation like Rangers and army personnel,” DPO said.

He informed that police tried to hire private vehicles but they went off the road after violence broke out. But, he said, even if the CM was not present in the city police would require some time to regroup themselves before moving into action.

He said the army would back up the Hyderabad police and soon they would leave the city because decision for imposing curfew was not taken. He said that around 18 banks, 10 government buildings, 86 vehicles, 17 trucks had been in the district while three people had lost their lives.

He said that in a meeting held with army officials on Sunday it was decided that National Highway Authority (NHA) would remove trailers and trucks after bringing cranes, adding that police and Rangers would assist the NHA without going into controversy of jurisdiction to clear by-pass for smooth flow of traffic. Seven offices and seven vehicles of Pakistan Motorway Police (PMP) were also burnt, he said.

Two police stations of Husri and Hatri and seven police pickets were burnt. “We did make a tactical retreat from that area,” he admitted.