Chairperson of Sindh Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Mrs Faryal Talpur, reviewed the overall law and order situation in the province, and an ongoing anti-narcotics operation in Sindh.
An important meeting of the Sindh Assembly Standing Committee on Home Affairs was held under the chairpersonship of Ms. Faryal Talpur to review the overall law and order situation in the province, particularly ongoing anti-narcotics operations, measures against gutka and mawa, and matters relating to public safety.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Minister for Home and Law, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar; Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control, Mukesh Kumar Chawla; Minister for Education, Syed Sardar Ali Shah; members of the Standing Committee including Sohail Anwar Siyal, Dr. Qasim Soomro, Sadia Javed and other members.
Senators Zameer Ghumro, Sarmad Ali and Poonjo Bheel, Members of the National Assembly Nabeel Gabol, Agha Rafiullah, Sharmila Faruqui, Hakeem Baloch and other distinguished personalities attended the meeting as special invitees.
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Inspector General of Police Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Additional IG Karachi, Additional IG CTD, Additional IG Special Branch, all DIGs and SSPs also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, detailed briefings were presented by Sindh Police, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), the Education Department and the Police Welfare Department on various matters.
The Additional IG Karachi gave a comprehensive briefing on the case of alleged drug trafficker Anmol alias “Pinky”, informing the committee about the arrest, recoveries, case details, criminal record and actions taken by the police. The committee was informed that multiple cases had been registered against the accused in Karachi, Lahore and other cities, while operations were continuing against her network, facilitators and individuals involved in narcotics trafficking in coordination with federal investigative agencies.
The committee also reviewed measures taken to monitor routes along the Sindh-Balochistan border and prevent smuggling and inter-provincial narcotics trafficking. Briefings were also given regarding ongoing campaigns against the use and sale of gutka, mawa and other harmful substances, as well as awareness programmes in educational institutions.
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) also presented a detailed briefing. The committee was informed that, with the support of the Government of Sindh, three rehabilitation centres are operational in Karachi, while one each is functioning in Hyderabad and Sukkur. Each centre provides treatment and rehabilitation services for drug addicts free of charge, with a total capacity of 405 beds.
ANF officials informed the committee that according to the last survey conducted in 2013, approximately 650,000 drug users were present across Sindh, highlighting the need to expand both the capacity and number of rehabilitation facilities.
During the briefing, proposals were presented for establishing additional rehabilitation centres in Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas. Chairperson Faryal Talpur directed that more rehabilitation centres be established across Sindh in collaboration with the Sindh Health Department. She further instructed that the existing centres in Sukkur and Hyderabad be strengthened, better equipped and made more effective to provide improved treatment and rehabilitation services to drug-dependent individuals.
On this occasion, Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah and the Secretary Education briefed the committee on measures taken to prevent the use of narcotics, gutka and other harmful substances in educational institutions, including awareness campaigns, training of teachers and students, and initiatives aimed at promoting a safe educational environment in schools and colleges.
Chairperson Faryal Talpur appreciated the efforts of law enforcement agencies in ensuring public safety, combating narcotics and maintaining law and order. She directed that coordination among institutions and monitoring mechanisms be further strengthened.
Sindh Minister for Home and Law Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar stated that the Government of Sindh is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers, criminal elements and networks that jeopardize the future of the younger generation. He directed all relevant institutions to utilize every available resource to eliminate narcotics, ensure public safety and maintain sustainable peace.
Chairperson Faryal Talpur emphasized that all relevant institutions, elected representatives, parents, teachers and members of society must unite and play their respective roles in eliminating narcotics. She stated that while the arrest of an individual drug dealer is an important achievement, the real objective is to dismantle the entire narcotics network and supply chain.
Faryal Talpur further stated that if narcotics are being supplied from foreign countries, particularly from African nations, then strict and indiscriminate action must also be taken against local facilitators, patrons and networks operating within the country. She noted that Sindh Police and other law enforcement agencies bear a significant responsibility in eradicating this menace through effective and result-oriented measures.
She made it clear that a zero-tolerance policy would be enforced against drug traffickers and their facilitators, and that no compromise or concession would be extended to any influential or non-influential individual involved in the narcotics trade. Faryal Talpur concluded that narcotics destroy not only individuals but entire generations, making collective and sustained efforts against this menace an urgent necessity.