KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to establish a well-equipped public library in the ATC building in Clifton.
ATC courts are being shifted to the Central Jail, Karachi.
The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Imdad Pitafi, Sohail Anwar Siyal, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Advocate General Zamir Ghumro, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Home Qazi Shahid Parvaiz and others.
The Sindh government is constructing 10 ATC courts at the Central Jail, Karachi. Work is almost in the final stage. The chief minister has directed Home Minister Sohail Siyal and Minister for Prisons Ziaul Hassan Lanjar to expedite the remaining work. “I want the court to be ready for shifting by September 16 and from September 18 shifting must be started,” he said.
The chief minister said he has decided to establish a well-equipped public library with additional digital facilities on the site of special courts. “The students, senior citizens and other people will have enough facilities to refresh themselves with reading material of their choice,” he said, and added that there would also be a coffee house at the library premises.
The chief minister was told that air-conditioners and CCTV cameras were yet to be fixed in the new special courts being constructed at the Central jail. The chief minister directed home secretary to get them fixed within four days and report back.
The chief minister directed the chief secretary to prepare a scheme for establishment of the library at the site of special courts. “I would release special funds for the purpose and want to give a gift of a beautiful library at the seaside to the people of this city,” he said.
It may be noted that presently six special courts are operating in Clifton. It causes serious security issues when those accused of terrorism are sent for hearing to the ATC Clifton. The police department deploys 700 policemen at different spots for their security. Therefore, keeping in view the gravity of the situation the government had decided to construct special court building at the Central Jail, Karachi.
Now, the court building’s construction has almost been completed and the work was done by FWO. The chief minister has decided schedule of shifting special courts from Clifton to Central Jail from September 18.
Published in Daily Times, September 9th 2017.
