How a ‘frontman’ dictates Karachi Police

ISLAMABAD: Political interference in Karachi policing continues to be the order of the day despite even the latest incidents of high-profile crimes as the SSP South Karachi, who was transferred following the kidnapping of the son of Chief Justice Sindh High Court, has been restored to the same position following extreme pressure.

This interference did not stop here as an influential businessman of Karachi, known for his close association with the top PPP leadership, brought all pressures on the Karachi police, including the IGP, to appoint the restored SSP South as SSP East. The businessman wanted another of his blue-eyed as SSP South.

The top police officers in Karachi told the authorities that it won’t be possible but it led to further pressure on the police following which the IGP had to write a letter to the chief minister conveying his inability to do all this.

He also insisted that besides being against the principles of good governance, such appointments will also be possibly questioned by the judiciary.  Although the IGP’s writing has apparently closed the matter at least now, some political leaders and influential businessman are upset that how dare the IGP AD Khawaja write all this to the government.

According to a source, the IGP was asked to withdraw his letter but he refused to do it. The influential businessman, also known as a frontman, wanted the restored SSP South Dr Muhammad Farooq Ahmad posted as SSP East whereas he proposed the name of Nasir Aftab as new SSP South Karachi. 

The IGP and other relevant senior police officers said that they are ready to face the consequences but would not let this happen. Interestingly, the removal of SSP South following the kidnapping incident was the consequence of chief minister’s verbal order but he too could not resist the political pressure, which made him direct the police department through the chief secretary to withdraw the transfer order of the SSP South.

SSP South Dr Muhammad Farooq Ahmad was transferred on June 22 on the instructions of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah after the kidnapping of the son of SHC chief justice. Besides the SSP South Dr Farooq, his SP Clifton Amjad Hayat was also transferred and made OSD for same reasons.

However, only two days later both the chief minister and the IGP have been made to take their orders back in regard to the SSP South Dr Muhammad Farooq Ahmad. In the case of SP Clifton, the original order has not been withdrawn.

The IGP tried to resist but the chief minister office directed him to withdraw the June 22 notification.   On June 24, the IG office issued an order for the withdrawal of its earlier notification and restored Dr Farooq as SSP South.

Terrorists posed a challenge to the courts by kidnapping Owais Ali Shah, son of Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, while the law enforcing and investigation agencies have failed so far to recover him.

Following this high-profile kidnapping case, Qaim Ali Shah said the kidnapping of Owais Ali Shah was a serious security lapse. Sources said after the kidnapping case, the chief minister discussed the situation with the IGP and the two agreed to remove the SSP and SP concerned.

Later the murder of Amjad Sabri raised serious questions about the Rangers-led Karachi operation. Like in the past, the police role was discussed and it was insisted that the department should be protected from external political influence.

The law and order situation demands depoliticisation of the Karachi police, and its professional handling. However, political interference in the Karachi police department continues unabated. In this latest case of withdrawal of notification, sources said pressure on the Sindh government came from senior PPP leadership following the alleged influence of a well-connected businessman, who is also known as a frontman.

In the case of Karachi and Sindh, the police are considered to be the most politicized.  In the Karachi killing case, no less than the Supreme Court had sought the depoliticisation of Karachi police but it has not been done.

The military authorities are also eager to see the provincial police working independent of the influence of politicians but it is not happening. Sindh chief minister is also said to be keen to give a free hand to the police but the poor provincial chief executive is helpless to counter the undue pressure in policing and civil service matters from his own political leadership.