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Friday March 29, 2024

Sindh govt makes another attempt at transferring police chief

By Salis bin Perwaiz
January 08, 2018

The Sindh government has once again moved the Establishment Division for transferring the provincial police chief, IGP AD Khowaja, and detailed the reasons for requesting his transfer.

The letter moved by the services secretary of the Services General Administration & Coordination Department states: “I am directed to refer to the Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad’s letter No 12(11)/85-E-3 (Police) dated 04.01.2018, on the subject noted above, wherein the Establishment Division has requested for communicating the panel of three PSP Officers of BS-22 is eligible as per policy who could be considered for posting as Inspector General of Police, Sindh in order of seniority.

“Names of the officers with their dates of births are Sardar Abdul Majeed, born June 17, 1960, Capt (retd) Arif Nawaz, born August 28, 1961, and Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak, born September 7, 1962.

“It is further stated that Capt (retd) Arif Nawaz and Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak have recently been posted as Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Lahore and Additional Director General, Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan, respectively.

“As such, their transfers and postings shall be hit by tenural limitations set out in the judgment dated August 6, 2015 passed by the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan in CMA No 27-K of 2015 in Criminal Petition No 01-K of 2015 (Ms Anita Turab Ali v/s Federation of Pakistan).

“Besides, Mehr Khaliq Dad Lak has never been posted in Sindh. Hence, he is inexperienced about the dynamics of this province. Accordingly, Sardar Abdul Majeed is the only officer of BS-22 having more than two years and three months’ service and can be considered for posting as Inspector General of Police, Sindh, as per the criteria set out by the Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.

“The matter was placed before the provincial cabinet in its meeting held on January 6, 2018, and after deliberation the cabinet approved and endorsed the posting of Sardar Abdul Majeed as Inspector General of Police, Sindh.

“Accordingly, the provincial government recommends that Sardar Abdul Majeed, an officer of Police Service of Pakistan (BS-22) may be posted as Inspector General of Police, Sindh in place of Allah Dino Khowaja, PSP (BS-21).”

Sources said the latest letter sent by the services secretary was under consideration by the Establishment Division, adding that it was expected that in the coming week Khowaja might be transferred and Majeed might replace him as the provincial police chief.

On December 30, 2017, the Sindh government had written to the Establishment Division stating that the provincial cabinet had decided to transfer IGP Khowaja. The cabinet forwarded a three member panel of PSP officers to the federal government. They included Sardar Abdul Majeed, PSP (BS-22), Ghulam Qadir Thebo, PSP (BS-21) and Dr Kaleem Imam, PSP (BS-21).

The letter also stated that Sardar Abdul Majeed remained the first choice as the provincial police chief. However, added the letter, the federal government may post any one of the officers from the panel as the Sindh IGP.

Meanwhile, the counsel for petitioner, who had challenged the repeal of the Police Order 2002 and Khowaja’s transfer in the Sindh High Court (SHC), last week sent a legal notice to the chief secretary for allegedly subverting the SHC’s judgment in the IGP transfer case.

Sending a legal notice to the CS for disobeying the court order, the counsel said the SHC had issued detailed directions to the Sindh and federal governments against the removal of Khowaja and the enactment of statutory rules for transfer and posting in the police department at all levels. He submitted that the provincial government, in accordance with the SHC’s order, was under legal obligation to convene a provincial cabinet meeting and circulate the agenda for the IGP’s removal, besides giving proper notice to the police chief, which was not followed by the provincial government.

The counsel pointed out that the government had also recommended two grade-21 officers for the post of the IGP, which was contradictory to the provincial government’s earlier stance.

He asked the CS to ensure the provincial government’s letter regarding recommendation of a panel of PSP officers be withdrawn and directions of the SHC be implemented, and in case of non-withdrawal, he had definite instructions from the petitioners to initiate legal proceedings, including but not limited to contempt proceedings, against the CS and other relevant persons.