Daily Times

Karachi: Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister (CM) on Information, Barrister Murtaza Wahab visited the Rescue Emergency Centre and Command & Control Room in Karachi commissioner’s office on Thursday in order to review the law and order situation and security arrangements being made for the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram.

During his visit, Barrister Wahab was welcomed and briefed by Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Sualeh Faruqui and other relevant officials about the objectives behind the establishment of state -of- the-art technology rescue centres. He was told that the centres were established to integrate the city’s rescue authorities and provide prompt response through a single centralised source in case of emergency situations. He was told that Rescue 1299 was responsible for providing backup in hazardous situations and civic complaints were also being handled by it.

The Karachi commissioner also briefed Barrister Wahab on the security arrangements being made by the administration under the instructions of Sindh government. He was told that both district and police authorities were alert and monitoring all routes that the main Muharram processions would take. He was informed that law enforcement personnel had already taken a round of all the major routes in the city. He was also apprised of the other steps being taken by security forces in order to ensure the security of the Muharram processions. During the briefing, Barrister Wahab expressed his satisfaction over the measures being taken by the authorities to avert the threat of any untoward incident. He remarked that it was our collective social and religious duty to protect the lives and property of people across the province. He further said that he was in contact with all divisional and district level administrative units and shared that the provincial government was maintaining a close liaison with the administrative units in order to ensure foolproof security arrangements till the end of Aashura.

Talking to media afterwards, Barrister Wahab said that nobody would be allowed to take law in their hands or create disturbances. In response to a question, Barrister Wahab said that he would personally monitor Murraham security arrangements through Rescue 1299 and Control and Command Centre. Concluding the session, the information advisor appealed to the public to coordinate with and offer support to LEAs and administration during Aashura. He added that cabinet members, Sindh government and CM Murad Ali Shah were all there to serve the people without any discrimination.

It is worth mentioning that Barrister Murtaza Wahab did not use any protocol during his visits and drove his vehicle himself. Residents of Karachi appreciated the advisor’s choice to forego protocol.

Published in Daily Times, September 21^st 2018.