Karachi, The Caretaker Chief Ministers of Sindh and Punjab, in a collaborative effort with top provincial officials, convened at the CM House in Karachi to outline a detailed strategy for a joint operation. This joint initiative targets bandits inhabiting the Riverine Areas of both provinces, signaling a significant move to combat criminal activities, especially in regions surrounding the River Indus.
According to a news release by the Sindh Chief Minister’s office, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, alongside his cabinet members, met Sindh’s Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar. Both leaders delved into discussions regarding the criminal gangs notorious for kidnappings and ransoms. They pinpointed the criminals’ strengths, positions, and hideouts in the dense forests along the River Indus and deliberated on a synchronized assault strategy for eliminating these threats from both provinces.
Sindh’s Chief Minister shared insights from his recent visits to Sukkur and Ghotki, stating that he has green-lighted the police to initiate the necessary groundwork in cooperation with Punjab’s forces. Meanwhile, Punjab’s CM emphasized the importance of a collective strategy and expressed confidence in the police of both provinces working in tandem to uproot this menace.
The detailed geographical briefings highlighted the key regions of concern. The primary Kacha Area, located in District Rajanpur, adjoins areas of Ghotki, Kashmore, and Rahim Yar Khan. Furthermore, the meeting revealed the existence of seven islands in Rajanpur that have impacts on Rahimyar Khan, including Kacha Karachi and Kacha Hyderabad. Both provinces acknowledged the interconnectedness of these criminal gangs, with five active gangs identified in Rajanpur and eleven in Kashmore and Ghotki.
Affirming the governments’ determination, Punjab’s Chief Minister pointed out that the combined strength of these gangs, around 600 members, cannot be allowed to challenge governmental authority. Infrastructure to counter these threats is already in place, with Punjab setting up multiple police camps and pickets, while Sindh has ramped up its raid operations, establishing over 200 police posts in vulnerable areas.
Both Chief Ministers, with their teams, meticulously mapped out a checklist to equip their forces adequately. This list includes mobile jammers, call interceptors, and plans for deploying police and Rangers. A notable highlight of the strategy is the incorporation of the latest technologies to counter the dacoits. Sindh’s Chief Minister emphasized the discreet nature of this operation, indicating that informants connected to the dacoits have been detained to ensure no information leaks ahead of the planned assault.