12,000 Sindh cops have patchy record, SC told

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday was informed by the provincial authorities that as many as 12,000 police officials and personnel were found involved in misuse of powers and having patchy background.

The apex court bench, comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing a case pertaining to the involvement of policemen in crime at its Karachi Registry. During the hearing, the home department submitted a fresh report informing the court that DSP Nisar Ahmed Brohi was given compulsory retirement after he was found guilty of recruiting 134 constables illegally.

According to reports, former IGP Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali, former AIG (Finance) Fida Hussain, SSP Ghulam Azfar Mahesar, Matiari district SP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh and other top ranking cops’ way of dealing with cases was found illegal.

The report said that SDPO Shahrah-e-Faisal Shakeel Ahmed Sarfaraz, as a penalty, faced reduction in pay scale because he illegally confined an advocate and his wife at his police station. Earlier, the apex court had directed Secretary Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan, and Sindh home secretary to submit comprehensive reports regarding the action taken against 35 police officers of grade 18 and above and 31 officials of BS-17.

At the outset of the hearing, Sindh IGP AD Khowaja had submitted a report informing the court that there was no discrimination in initiating action against the delinquent officers as the same was already taken against low-ranking officers without delay.

The IGP had told the judges that up to the level of BP-16 and below, the police department is competent to take disciplinary action and the police chief cannot take action against officers of grade 17 and above.

He added that the home minister was the competent authority to take action against officials of BS-17 and for BS-18 and above, the chief minister had the powers through SGA&CD.

AD Khowaja had informed the apex court that he had sent the list of 31 officials of BS-17 to the home department and another list showing misconduct report against 35 officers of BS-18 was sent to the chief secretary.