KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs has approved the formation of a task force to curb the menace of drugs in educational institutions and okayed the draft Sindh Habitual Offenders Bill.

The committee also expressed its serious concern over increasing incidents of street crime in the metropolis and asked the inspector general of police (IGP) to take measures to curb the menace.

Presided over by MPA Faryal Talpur, the meeting of the standing committee was held on Wednesday in the Committee Room of the Sindh Assembly. Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Chief Minister’s Law Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Excise Ministers Mukesh Kumar Chawla, IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon and other members attended the meeting.

Ms Talpur, the standing committee chairperson, also directed the police to ensure peace and order in the riverine areas by eradicating bandits.

Committee members ask IGP to stop street crime in the city

She also recommended recruitment of women in various departments of the Sindh police Briefing the committee members, the IGP presented a comparative report of the performance police in the year 2022 and the current year.

He also informed the committee of the latest situation in the province, especially in the riverine areas and vowed that an ongoing operation there would end lawlessness in the border areas of the province.

The meeting discussed actions to curb street crime and illegal drug trade in the metropolis. The committee decided to take strict action against drug dealers.

An action plan to curb the narcotic use in educational institutions was also discussed and it was decided that the police would work with parents and private school associations in order to enhance communication with parents and management of private educational institutions.

The standing committee also approved the formation of a task force to control the menace of drugs in schools.

Barrister Wahab said on the occasion that the law department would draft legislation if needed to be enacted to eradicate the scourge of drugs.

The IGP said that cells had been established for protection of women and children in 12 districts of the province.

Ms Talpur asked the police chief to establish such units in all the districts of the province and said that crimes must be eradicated from slums.

Also on the occasion, the standing committee appreciated the role of policeman Yasir Gul in foiling a recent terrorist attack on Karachi Police Office. The constable, who was present in the meeting, narrated details of the attack to the members of the committee.

Other members of the committee including Sohail Anwar Siyal, Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, Noor Ahmed Bhurgari, Raja Razak, Shamim Mumtaz, Qasim Siraj Soomro, Sohrab Sarki, Imdad Patafi were also present.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2023