Sukkur DIG seeks action against Ghotki SSP

KARACHI: Sukkur Police Range DIG Syed Pir Muhammad Shah has recommended departmental action against Ghotki SSP Hafeez Rehman Bugti.

The development comes in the wake of an attack on the Shar community chief Sardar Shaharyar Shar (ex-MPA) and his aides. The attack left ex-MPA Shar’s friend Ali Muhammad Shar and a hardened criminal Umar Shar killed and three wounded.

At the time of the incident, according to local sources, Umar Shar was in another vehicle behind Sardar Shar’s. An First Information Report (FIR) 79/2024 of the incident was registered under sections of murder, anti-terroism and others at Police Station Wasti Jeewan Shah against the alleged accused belonging to the Bhutto and Seelra communities. SHO Ranwati Shakoor Lakho was also nominated as the instigator of the crime.

The DIG, in his letter to Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, expressed his concern over the actions of the SSP. According to the DIG, SSP was treading a dangerous and unprofessional path by engaging with and attempting to persuade notorious criminals involved in multiple heinous activities, including the killing of police officers, kidnapping for ransom, and looting police weapons.

The DIG added that while the surrender of criminals to face the criminal justice system is always a welcome step, but any form of acquiescence to their demands is highly troubling. They have consistently defied the rule of law and killed police officers alongside kidnapping innocent citizens for ransom. Moreover, they are wanted in the murder of members of various local communities.

The DIG Sukkur concluded by writing that while reconciliation efforts between hostile tribes can be viewed positively, meeting with Shar dacoits under the guise of bringing peace and subsequently yielding to their demands, involving coercing other communities into accepting private jirga, constitutes grave misconduct. These Shar dacoits, he said, are responsible for grave offences including police killings and kidnappings for ransom.

The DIG asked the IGP to seek an immediate explanation from SSP Bugti regarding his engagement with criminal elements.

This reporter repeatedly tried to contact the SSP for his point of view but his cellphone was off. However, a police official close to the SSP informed The News on the condition of anonymity that the SSP met Umar Shar, who according to him was not a dacoit but an absconder in some cases registered against him due to tribal rivalry. Furthermore, this meeting took place with the consent of the Sukkur DIG, IGP and other police authorities to persuade Shar to surrender.

The police official claimed that the attack on former MPA was carried out by Bhutto and Seelra community persons on the instigation and information given by SHO Lakho. After concrete technical evidence, a case has been registered against those involved in the attack.

SHO Lakho was produced before a local court on Thursday, where he said that he had always fought against the dacoits. He claimed that he victim of a conspiracy against him and his life was in danger.