‘Witnesses are provided proper protection around the world but in our country they are offered no protection since the witness protection law is not being properly implemented here,’ said the chief of Sindh Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Zubair Habib on Monday. ‘This gives benefit of doubt to criminals and they continue their heinous activities because, in the absence of witnesses, they don’t have to worry about getting punished,” added Zubair Habib. Chief of Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Sindh Zubair Habib said this while addressing the audience during an event organised by Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) at ABAD House. The CPLC chief shared that when Latif Sorathia, an ABAD member, was kidnapped, it was feared that kidnap for ransom cases in the city would increase if Sorathia was not recovered without paying ransom. Appreciating the role of police in solving the case, Zubair Habib said that the police officials, especially Senior Subinspector Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur, worked round the clock for release of Latif Sorathia from clutches of kidnappers and also arrested one of the kidnappers. He said that kidnapping for ransom was a major offence and kidnappers could be awarded with death sentences but not a single criminal involved in kidnapping ever received a death sentence due to the ineffective implementation of law for protection to witnesses. Zubair Habib informed the gathering that cases of kidnapping for ransom in Karachi had reduced drastically since the last five years. During his address, Zubair Habib said that the construction sector was considered backbone of economy as more than 70 allied industries were directly dependent on this sector and it was matter of pride that ABAD had played a leading role for development of Karachi and country as well. He said that CPLC took each and every complaint of ABAD members as a priority case and tried its best to solve their problems. During the event, ABAD chairman Arif Yousuf Jeewa also took the podium to address the gathering. Appreciating CPLC and the police department for the swift recovery of Latif Soarathia, Arif Yousuf Jeewa said that CPLC and police had restored confidence of the builders and developers community in Karachi. He said that peace and tranquility in Karachi had been restored thanks to the police. He added that the police had proved that they could handle any kind of critical criminal case like the case of Latif Sorathia. He said that Latif Soarathia’s family and all members of ABAD were indebted to police department and CPLC. He requested CPLC chief to appoint a focal person for ABAD. Chairman Southern Region ABAD, Altaf Tai hoped that liaison between police, CPLC and ABAD would boost confidence in days to come. DIG CIA, Amin Yousufzai said that the case of Latif Sorathia was very critical but police officials completed this task despite threats to their lives. He said that criminals take advantage when society becomes weaker. He informed the gathering that police and CPLC were working to wipe out kidnapping for ransom from Karachi. Amin Yousufzai said that every member of police team involved in safe release of Latif Sorathia would be given Rs 500,000 and three police officers were recommended for police medals for their meritorious work in the case. Published in Daily Times, July 3rd 2018.