Thebo returns as city police chief after two years

Additional IGP Ghulam Qadir Thebo, who was relieved of the Karachi police chief post on July 17 two years ago, is once again at the helm of the city’s law enforcement agency, with the major responsibility of curbing street crime.

The Sindh government has been censured over different issues, but largely because of street crime that has become an unrelenting problem for the people of the city. During a recent apex committee meeting convened at the Corps Headquarters with army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa in chair, recommendations were proposed for fighting street crime.

While the meeting appreciated the city’s law enforcers for maintaining law and order on the whole, they stressed on curbing the persistent menace of street crime.

To find a solution to the problem, the Sindh Rangers and the provincial police put forward different perspectives before the meeting. However, sources told The News that after the meeting, the provincial government had decided to make some changes in the setup of the Sindh police.

They said that in view of Thebo being the city’s police chief for more than a year, when the Karachi operation was at its peak and the police were performing well, he was recommended for taking the helm of the law enforcement agency again.

Addl IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar was posted as the city police chief on July 17, 2015, as Thebo was posted as the chairman of the anti-corruption establishment. Exactly two years later, Thebo is back at the helm.

The Sindh government’s notification issued on Monday announced that Thebo, a grade-21 Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officer and the Enquiries & Anti-Corruption Establishment chairman, was transferred and posted as the Karachi police chief.

Mahar, a grade-21 PSP officer and the Karachi police chief, was transferred and posted as the Karachi traffic police chief, while Addl IGP Khadim Hussain Bhatti, a grade-21 PSP officer and the Karachi traffic police chief, was transferred and posted as the Research, Development & Inspection chief.

Addl IGP Sardar Abdul Majeed, a grade-21 PSP officer and the Research, Development & Inspection chief, was transferred and posted as second in command to the Sindh police chief.

Addl IGP Dr Aftab Ahmed Pathan, a grade-21 PSP officer and second in command to the Sindh police chief, was transferred and posted as the Sindh Crime Branch chief, relieving Counter Terrorism Department Sindh chief Dr Sanaullah Abbasi of his additional charge.

Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, a grade-20 PSP officer, who was awaiting posting, was appointed as the Sindh Technical & Transport DIGP against an existing vacancy. He was also provided with the additional charge of the Sindh Training Range DIGP, relieving Imran Yaqoob Minhas of his additional charge.

Minhas, a grade-20 PSP officer and the Sindh Finance DIGP, was transferred and posted as the Traffic Licensing & Training DIGP, while Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh, a grade-20 PSP officer and the Traffic Licensing & Training DIGP, was transferred and posted as the Security DIGP against an existing vacancy.

Last week, on June 11, the Sindh government made its first changes in the provincial police force since taking away IGP A D Khowaja’s powers to post officers of BPS-18 and BPS-19 at the start of the month.

As per notifications issued by the chief secretary’s office, Dr Assad Ejaz Malhi, a BS-18 officer serving as SP Clifton Division, Karachi, has been transferred and posted as SP District Qambar Shahdadkot, replacing Sajid Amir Suddozai.

Suddozai, also a BS-18 officer who had been a SP at his previous post, has been transferred and posted as SSP District Larkana. He replaces Umer Tufail (BS-18) who has been posted as SP District Shikarpur against Zeeshan Shafique Siddiqui, who has been directed to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.

Irfan Ali Baloch, a BS-19 officer, has been transferred from his post of SSP District Hyderabad and posted as SSP District East, Karachi, replacing Capt (Retd) Faisal Abdullah who has been directed to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.

Hassan Sardar Ahmed Khan, a BS-18 officer serving as SP Shah Faisal Division, has been transferred and posted as SP Security-II, Karachi, replacing Imran Riaz who has been directed to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.

Dr Muhammad Farooq Ahmed, a BS-18 officer serving as Director, Anti-Encroachment Cell, Karachi, has been posted as SSP District West, Karachi, replacing SSP Nasir Aftab who has been directed to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.

Along with serving as SSP West, Dr Ahmed has been handed look-after charge of the post of Director, Anti-Encroachment Cell, Karachi, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.

Javed Ahmed Baloch, a BS-18 officer who was awaiting a posting, has been made SP District Ghotki, replacing Masood Ahmed Bangash who has been directed to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department.