Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh police is likely to have new team of high officials in coming days with the choice of provincial home ministry since the inspector general of police (IGP) Sindh Allah Dino Khowaja has gone powerless to appoint SPs and SSPs by his well.

A senior police officer told Daily Times that powers were withdrawn due to get rid of the old police officials who were posted by IGP Sindh Allah Dino Khowaja because as they had inclination towards him and the government has taken that decision to withdraw the powers of the IGP as a part of the ongoing rift between the provincial government and the AD Khowaja.

Two days earlier the Sindh government has withdrawn the powers of inspector general of police (IGP) Sindh Allah Dino Khowaja and now he would not be able to transfer and post the SSPs and SPs.

The letter reads as follows “The competent authority Chief Minister Sindh has been pleased to approve that the transfer and postings of Superintendent of Police (BS-18) and Senior Superintendent of Police (BS-19) and equivalent shall be issued by the services, General Administration and Coordination Department with the approval of Sindh Chief Minister in accordance with Rule 9 (2) of the Sindh Civil Servants (appointment and transfer) Rules, 1974,” reads a notification issued by Sindh Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon. “The department’s orders of even number dated 09-08-2016, whereby powers delegated to the IGP with regard to transfers and postings of SPs and SSPs and equivalent is hereby cancelled or withdrawn.”

It worth mentioning that the former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had delegated special powers to the former IGP Sindh Fayyaz Leghari to transfer and post the SSPs and SPs to give him a chance to make a team of his own choice.

The tussle between the IGP and Sindh government had surfaced when the Sindh government had sent him on a forced leave following the differences erupted over multiple issues, particularly over transfer and postings of the SSPs and SPs, however, the government withdrew its decision and IGP rejoined the office after the court intervened.

IGP Khowaja has already approached the court to surrender his services but the decision is still pending.

“The situation turned more critical when a senior PPP leader Sohail Anwar Sial resumed the charge of his office as home minister Sindh now it is on its peak which likely to damage the moral and chain of command of the police as the newly posted officials would have more sympathies with home minister rather then IGP that will create turmoil among the SHOs of police stations”, source explained further.

According to the officer posted in CPO that Since tussle begun, the government has attempted to remove the IGP number of times but this is a final attempt as after this, the IGP will have no special powers which will compel him to surrender his services.

The Sindh government has already decided to appoint a senior police officer Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti in replacement of IGP Khowaja but is waiting for the removal of the IGP.

Published in Daily Times, July 2^nd, 2017.