Karachi
The senior officers of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), Sindh Chapter, have joined hands with their colleagues in Islamabad and the Punjab against the dismissal of Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ali Nekokara from service and are lobbying for his reinstatement.
SSP Nekokara was dismissed from service a few days back by the federal government following an inquiry against him after he had refused to use force against protesters during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sit-ins in Islamabad and had sought written orders from the interior ministry instead of acting on verbal orders.
The police officers all over the country are concerned and reports say they are secretly meeting in each province and the federal capital, expressing their annoyance over the sacking of their colleague. They are said to be planning protests, including strikes, to compel the federal government to reinstate the SSP, who, according to them has been victimised for refusing to follow the verbal orders and refraining from using excessive force against the political workers and unarmed people staging a ‘Dharna’ in Islamabad.
Following a meeting at the Police Club in Karachi, Sindh police officers, including the DIGs and SSPs, met Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, seeking his intervention and support on Nekokara’s issue.
Nekokara was sacked on the recommendations of an inquiry conducted by the IGP Balochistan Muhammad Amlish but his removal from service was met with sharp criticism from the opposition parties, PSP officers all over the country and civil society organisations, who vowed to fight the government’s decision at all forums, including the court of law. The Sindh police officers also met DIG Establishment Khadim Hussain Rind in this regard.
A senior Sindh PSP officer said the meeting expressed grave concern over the sacking of Nekokara without any solid reasons, and
added that the officers were of the view that rules and regulations were not fully followed by the inquiry officer.
He elaborated, “For instance, there was no report against SSP Nekokara by the concerned officers, either his IGP or the commissioner Islamabad. On the contrary, the protesting parties had lodged an FIR against him, which shows his loyalty and commitment to his service and force.”
“The FIR against Nekokara also shows that he was definitely not taking sides as was accused but he preferred to remain neutral and followed the rules and regulations”, the official claimed.
He said the meeting also observed the inquiry against Nekokara was totally biased and had many loopholes in the professional context and some unanswered questions, adding that the inquiry did no do justice to the police officer who had an excellent career and qualities.
“The meeting resolved that injustice would not be accepted in the case of SSP Muhammad Ali Nekokara or any other officer,” he said and stressed that all the PSP officers of Sindh police expressed solidarity with the aggrieved police official and vowed to support him until he gets justice and was reinstated honourably.
The official said the meeting decided to raise the issue with the political leadership and in this regard they had met with Khursheed Shah and apprised him of their concerns and injustice against SSP Muhammad Ali Nekokara, and sought his intervention in raising the matter with the concerned authorities.
“The opposition leader listened to the grievances of the Sindh police officers and assured them that he would try his best that justice is provided to an honest police official,” he added.