NAWABSHAH / HYD­ER­ABAD: Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has condemned all those individuals and parties criticising 18th Amendment and National Finance Commission (NFC) Award following the Gul Plaza fire incident, saying such tragedies should not be turned into political controversies.

He said this while speaking to the media after witnessing the passing-out parade at the Police Training College (PTC) in Shahdadpur on Saturday.

As many as 683 police personnel, including 263 women, successfully completed their training.

Expressing deep sorrow over the Gul Plaza tragedy, the home minister said that precious human lives had been lost and the entire provincial government was in mourning.

He regretted that the fire tragedy was being linked to the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award, which he described as beyond understanding.

Says such tragedies should not be politicised; passing-out parade of 683 personnel held at Police Training Centre

Criticising leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, he said that politics over dead bodies was unacceptable under any circumstances. He added that such incidents could occur in Lahore, Peshawar, or any other city.

Speaking about law and order, the minister said that maintaining peace in the province was the government’s top priority.

He added that full-scale measures were underway to eliminate dacoits in the katcha areas or compel them to surrender. He also informed that a special task force had been established to combat narcotics, which was working effectively.

Earlier, the home minister while addressing the passing-out parade congratulated newly inducted police personnel.

He expressed hope that they would uphold their commitment and ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property.

He said that the sacrifices of Sindh Police were a matter of pride, and that police personnel rem­ained engaged in safeguarding the public from urban centres to riverine belt areas.

He said that there were no “no-go areas” left in Sindh, though operations were still ongoing in the riverine regions of Ghotki and Kashmore.

Referring to President Asif Ali Zardari’s vision, he said that a large number of dacoits in Shikarpur had surrendered and were now facing legal proceedings.

He stated that Sindh and Punjab Police were jointly conducting operations in border regions. He thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for appreciating the performance of the Sindh Police and Rangers, and said that peace could only be further strengthened through coordinated cooperation.

Speaking about Karachi, Mr Lanjar said that the crime rate in the city had significantly declined compared to previous years, and that Karachi’s crime rate was lower than many major cities around the world.

He directed police officials to further improve performance and maintain public trust. He expressed hope that the newly appointed inspector general of police (IGP) would raise police morale further.

He also praised the principal of the Police Training College and her team, stressing that modern training, specialised skills-based courses, and the development of professional police officers were essential needs of the time, as social progress was not possible without the rule of law.

Speaking on the occasion, IGP Javed Alam Odho emphasised that policing was not merely about force, but a commitment to the rule of law, respect for human rights, discipline, and public service.

He appreciated the efforts of the training college administration and said that modern facilities and professional training were a source of pride for young officers.

He congratulated all passing-out personnel and expressed hope that they would serve Sindh Police with honesty, courage and justice.

PTC Principal Zahida Parveen also addressed the gathering.

PPP leaders including Senator Qurat-ul-Ain Mari, Ajiz Dhamra, Alauddin Junejo and others were also present.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026