Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry expresses apprehensions over Director General Rangers’ remarks, urge government to devolve necessary powers

Karachi, March 20, 2014 (PPI-OT): The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed serious apprehensions and shock over the recent remarks of Director General Pakistan Ranger Sindh, Maj. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar who said that the paramilitary force was not enjoying the powers it needed to maintain durable peace in Karachi as even after six months of Karachi operation, these powers are still on papers only and have not been devolved.

In a statement issued, BMG Chairman and Former President KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairmen BMG, Tahir Khaliq, Zubair Motiwala, Haroon Farooki and Anjum Nisar, President KCCI, Abdullah Zaki, Senior Vice President KCCI, Muffasar Malik and Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Idrees stated that DG Rangers’ remarks have triggered anxiety amongst members of the business and industrial community whose businesses are terribly suffering due to rising lawlessness despite the fact that a surgical operation is underway in many parts of the city.

KCCI advised federal and provincial governments to make coordinated efforts and devise a clear strategy for effectively dealing with deteriorating law and order situation on war-footing basis and give some sigh of relief to perturbed Karachiites. The government should stop playing politics as this is a matter of life and death for the citizens of Karachi and Karachiites don’t understand how can the decision makers take such a serious issue so lightly.

Referring to slow progress of the ongoing operation and failure to yield positive results, KCCI recalled that during Prime Minister’s recent visit to Karachi to attend KCCI Export Trophy Awards Ceremony, the business community expressed sheer disappointment over deteriorating law and order situation of Karachi city and advocated the need to intensify Karachi operation and prolong it to an indefinite period till peace is fully restored across the city.

KCCI said that although the Prime Minister agreed to business community’s demand and assured full cooperation but it is a matter of grave concern that Pakistan Rangers Sindh, which plays the lead role in the ongoing surgical operation, remains disabled as they complain of being powerless.

KCCI urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately fulfill their commitments to restore peace and devolve necessary powers to Rangers whereas the police must also be equipped accordingly.

KCCI said that it is the foremost desire of every citizen of Karachi particularly the business and industrial community that peace must be restored on sustainable basis which can only be done by enhancing resources and powers to Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs). KCCI assured that the business community will always be ready to fully cooperate with LEAs with a view to restore the glories of this important city which contributes substantially to the national exchequer.

Commenting on various reports pertaining to differences between Federal and Provincial governments over the appointment of Inspector General Police in Sindh, Chairman of Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli underscored the need to prioritize the appointment of IG Police in Sindh on the basis of merit. “People are losing their lives every day due to horrific bloodshed in Karachi and it is extremely disheartening to see politicians doing politics over dead bodies of innocent citizens”, he added.

Siraj Teli said that considering the overall worsening security situation which is likely to plunge the metropolitan city of Karachi to a point of no return, the appointment of IG should not be delayed further. “Any competent officer should be immediately appointed purely on the basis of merit and no compromises be made in this regard as Karachiites are losing their loved ones every day while the federal and provincial governments look confused and have differences in the appointment of a competent and honest officer as IG Sindh.

Referring to Prime Minister’s meeting with heads of LEAs at Governor House, Siraj Teli said that although Prime Minister has directed concerned authorities to accelerate action against unregistered SIMs but it is unlikely to deliver desired results as such futile practices have been undertaken from time to time.

He said that more than 70 percent of criminal activities take place using mobile phones and the only solution is to completely shut down all the prepaid SIMs in one go and get them reissued to subscribers’ postal addresses as mentioned in CNIC through courier services. If effectively done, it will certainly get rid of all illegal SIMs within three days whereas Mobile Phone Service Providers must also be strictly directed to refrain from issuing unregistered SIMs in future.

BMG Chairman was of the view that the city faces multiple problems and they could only be solved through comprehensive planning and consistent efforts with the contribution of every concerned institution.

For more information, contact:
Aamir Hassan
Director Press/ Electronic Media and Public Relations
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat,
Karachi-74000
Email: info@kcci.com.pk, secretary@kcci.com.pk
URL: www.kcci.com.pk
Office: +92 99218001-09
Fax: +92 21 99218040