Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah today directed police to regulate the sale of new and used mobile phones and take strict action against scrap dealers involved in trading parts of stolen vehicles, while also reinforcing operations against dacoits in the province’s riverine areas.
Chairing a high-level meeting at CM House, the chief minister instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure all mobile phone transactions in Karachi and other districts are documented and legally verified. The IGP informed the meeting that standard operating procedures for mobile phone trade have been finalized in coordination with the Mobile Market Association.
Shah called for enhanced policing in Sukkur and Larkana divisions to counter kidnapping for ransom. He directed swift action to prevent such crimes and improve the overall law and order situation in these regions.
The meeting reviewed progress on the campaign against stolen vehicles and motorcycle parts. It was shared that 234 scrap dealers have been arrested. Additionally, 27 individuals were apprehended in joint FIA and police operations for illegally unlocking IMEI numbers of stolen phones.
Attention was drawn to the misuse of vehicles with blue lights, tinted windows, and fancy number plates. Police confiscated over 14,000 vehicles with unauthorized blue lights, more than 81,000 with tinted windows, and 253,000 with modified number plates. More than 500 vehicles were impounded for displaying weapons. A total of 1,474 FIRs have been lodged, leading to the recovery of Rs 34.6 million in fines.
The police briefed those 245 encounters took place this year, in which 38 suspects were killed, 262 injured, and 1,983 arrested. The Shaheen Force has been reactivated with a 386-motorcycle squad assigned to monitor street crime hotspots. Additionally, the Madadgar-15 service has been upgraded with 120 new bikes and improved call center facilities.
It was reported that 2,000 surveillance cameras are active in Karachi, with 325 new units being added and 500 older ones undergoing upgrades. Around 40,000 community-supported CCTV cameras have also been installed across the city. The Sindh Smart Surveillance System project is underway with installation of ANPR and facial recognition cameras under the Karachi Safe City Project.
The meeting also discussed police infrastructure. Out of 31 targeted police stations, 10 have been renovated using the allocated Rs 280 million. The remaining stations are expected to be completed within a month.
The home minister informed that e-tagging of repeat offenders is set to begin, with 4,000 devices procured for the pilot phase. Rules and SOPs for the project are already in place.
Shah stressed the need for a structured prisoner rehabilitation plan and proposed the establishment of special courts for murder and narcotics-related cases. Recruitment of 400 prosecutors on contract is underway to support investigations.
Regarding operations in the Katcha region, it was reported that from January to March 2025, 22 kidnapping cases occurred, with 17 victims recovered. The CM directed intensified efforts in unresolved cases and reinforced operations in Shikarpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, and Sukkur.
Officials reported that since April 2024, operations in Katcha areas have been supported by Sindh Rangers and use of advanced technology including drone cameras and night vision devices. So far, 85 dacoits have been killed, 166 injured, while 20 policemen lost their lives and 33 were wounded.
The chief minister also announced a separate meeting on Tuesday to address the increasing number of traffic accidents in Karachi.