Seven SHOs suspended, demoted over rising street crime

Seven SHOs in Karachi have been suspended and demoted because they failed to curb street crime in their respective police precincts, a statement issued on behalf of Sindh’s home minister said on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Suhail Siyal said the minister presided over a meeting to review the law and order situation of the city, adding that he expressed concerns over rising street crime and complaints of bad behaviour of SHOs and other police personnel with citizens.

Siyal warned all the SHOs to improve their performance or else strict action would be taken against them. He said that after evaluating the performance of all the SHOs in the light of reports submitted by the present and former Karachi police chiefs as well as the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, seven SHOs were being suspended and demoted. The SHOs being punished are Aurangzeb Khattak of Preedy, Nasir Afridi of Sachal, Tariq Mehmood of Liaquatabad, Sabir Khattak of Mominabad, Mohammad Ali of Saudabad, Mashooq Ali Shah of Risala and Inam Jonejo of Jamshed Quarters.

The minister said that initially one SHO from each district of the city was being suspended, and that the process would continue based on the officials’ performance to be gauged every three months. “This mechanism will be implemented throughout the province.”

He called for immediate action against criminals involved in organised crimes, including those of narcotics, gambling, smuggling and illegal sale of Iranian fuel. He reiterated that negligence in duties and responsibilities would not be tolerated whatsoever.

Siyal told the media after the meeting that the Additional IGP of the Special Branch was tasked with submitting quarterly reports on the performance of all the personnel of police stations. He said the Additional IGP of Crimes was tasked with submitting reports on the performance of all police stations with reference to action taken against organised criminal activities.

On a query about encroachments on roads and footpaths as well as illegal parking areas across the city with the alleged support of the district and traffic police, he directed the Additional IGP of Traffic to take immediate action against the policemen.