KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday extended until April 19 a stay-order granted against the removal of Sindh Police inspector general (IGP) AD Khawaja. A two-member SHC bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the case. Advocate General Zameer Ghumro informed the judges about the mechanism used by the provincial government for the appointment of IGPs over the years. “The provincial government has powers to appoint the IGP of its own choice. Usually, the provincial government recommends three police officers to the federal government,” he said. The court then adjourned the hearing due to the absence of Faisal Siddiqui, the petitioners’ lawyer. Earlier, Siddiqui had argued whether the provincial government was empowered to appoint or remove the IGP and enact laws that came within the domain of the federal government. He said the provincial government had enacted the Sindh (Repeal of the Police Order 2002 and Revival of the Police Act 1861) Act 2011, which was unconstitutional and aimed at subverting transparency in the police department. The Sindh government had suffered a setback on March 3 when the SHC had restored AD Khawaja as IGP. The court had observed that the IGP could only be removed after the cabinet endorsed the decision as the apex court had held in its verdict that the provincial governments could exercise statutory powers conferred on them through the cabinet. Later, the Sindh government had summoned a cabinet meeting and endorsed AD Khawaja’s removal. It appointed additional IG Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti in his place. The government’s decision to surrender the services of AD Khawaja to the federal government and appoint Dasti had been criticised by the civil society as well as opposition parties. Several civil society members had then moved the SHC against the Sindh government’s decision to appoint Dasti. The petitioners’ counsel had earlier stated that the SHC had directed the government not to remove Khawaja in violation of the apex court’s judgment. However, he said, the Sindh government had issued a notification surrendering the services of Khawaja to the federal government and appointing Dasti in his place. Civil rights campaigners -Karamat Ali, Shehzad Roy, Nazim Fida Hussain Haji, Orangi Pilot Project Research and Training Institute, the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research – had filed the petition.