KARACHI:Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Information, Law and anticorruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab said on Saturday that 80% suggestions of opposition parties had been incorporated in new police law, while 20% of them, which were presented by PTI, were rejected on the basis of majority.
Talking to media, he said that new police law was balanced as it ensured effective and accountable policing system in the Sindh province. He said that IGP Sindh had been given administrative and financial powers to effectively use his authority and added that in case of any mistake and misuse of power, an independent forum would make them accountable which comprised government, opposition and civil society representatives.
The advisor said that police had been authorized in new police order to send direct summaries to chief minister and they would not be bound to send their summaries to provincial home department which was time consuming as it had to pass through 17 to 18 officials of Sindh government. The advisor said that it was old demand of police that their matters stucked up in bureaucracy and added that direct access to Chief Minister Sindh for police had been ensured in the new law.
He said that suggestions of the opposition leader regarding formation of safety commission had also been incorporated in which opposition leader suggested that three member independent selection panel, headed by chief secretary Sindh and one representative of chief minister and opposition leader, should select members of civil society in the safety commission.
The information advisor appreciated the efforts of 15 member select committee and contributions which comprised the government, PTI, MQM, GDA, TLP and MMA representatives in drafting the new balanced police law. Responding to a question, the advisor said that every citizen had the right to go court and they were not supposed to stop anyone and added that no point had been left for opposition to criticize new law as the government had accepted their suggestions with open heart and now they were making useless statements and were trying to play politics as there was no positive strategy behind it.
To another question, Wahab said that the word ‘government ‘ is replaced with ‘chief minister Sindh ‘ in police order. Explaining this, he said: “The government means Sindh cabinet and it is not possible to convene cabinet meeting every day so chief minister Sindh who is elected chief executive of the province has been given the powers.”