Sindh political elite wants to keep power to appoint DSPs

KARACHI: Superseding the decision of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the political elite of Sindh have decided to go for direct appointment against the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), a BPS-17 post in Sindh police. 

It may be recalled that in December 2016, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, following the recommendations of Sindh Home Department and Sindh IGP AD Khawaja sent back the authority of recruitment of grade-17 posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) after 42 years.

The post of DSP was taken out from the purview of Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) in 1974 by then Chief Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and since then the position was being filled in by chief ministers purely on political considerations.

According to Service Rules of Sindh government a position in grade-14 and above are filled in through SPSC, however the political elite of the PPP-led Sindh government wants to retain the right of making appointment against the important position of DSP. Presently at least some 40-plus police officers who were directly appointed as DSP occupy different important positions of Sindh Police. 

In a high level meeting, Sindh government without consulting the Sindh IGP AD Khawaja has decided to amend the Police Act, 1861 by introducing a provincial police authority chaired by the chief minister, setting up a public grievances and redressal cell at police stations and mainly a change in the police service cadre by directly appointing DSP and fixing the tenure of police officers.

Sindh CM will be the chairperson of proposed police authority while home minister will be its vice-chairperson with the IGP and home secretary as members. Sources said that in this law, which will be called the Police Act, 2017, the tenure of police officers from top to bottom will be fixed. Initially, it has been suggested to appoint the IG, additional IGs, SSPs, DSPs and even SHOs for a two-year period and tenure would be subject to their performance and conduct.

Law Minister Zia Lanjar said that they had reviewed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa model of police system and taking some clauses from them, they were trying to make Sindh police a community friendly force.

At the time of this decision, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Shah said that he believed in merit and post of DSP was a senior position so selection of DSP must be made through Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC).