Sindh withdraws appeal for removing IG Khawaja

KARACHI: To pave the way for the removal of IGP Sindh AD Khawaja, the Sindh government principally decided to withdraw its appeal today (Thursday) from the Supreme Court, well-placed sources close to Sindh Chief Minister House told The News.

The information regarding this major development was confirmed by the sources of Bilawal House also. On January 18, the Supreme Court ruled that IG Sindh Police Allah Dino Khawaja would keep working on his position until it decides the matter of appointment of the top cop in the province.

The orders came as a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, heard a petition from the provincial government challenging the Sindh High Court orders in favour of Khawaja. Applauding the high court orders, the CJP said the decision was worth reading twice. While admitting the Sindh government’s application for hearing, the court ordered the government to let the IG work until the matter is decided.

The court further said that the matter of IG’s appointment in Sindh would be subject to court ruling and any measure taken by federal government in this regard will have no significance. In the beginning of January, the federal cabinet had approved the appointment of Abdul Majeed Dasti, a Grade 22 officer of the Police Service, as inspector general of police (IGP) Sindh to replace Khawaja, an officer of Grade 21.

The Sindh ruling party is uneasy about the presence of Khawaja as the chief of the province’s police and the matter ultimately landed at the high court on civil society petition, which ruled against removing him.

Sources added that keeping in view the Supreme Court’s stance upon removal of IG Khowaja, Sindh government’s high-ups have directed their legal team and Advocate General Sindh Barrister Zameer Ahmed Ghumro to withdraw the appeal from Supreme Court, as after removal of legal bar set by the apex court, the federal government could remove Khawaja and post Dasti as IG Sindh.

These sources concluded that matter of removing of replacing AD Khawaja with Dasti has been settled between PPP-led Sindh government and the PML-N-led federal government but due to Supreme Court orders it could not be materialized. When the Sindh government withdraws its petition, the federal government will appoint Dasti as IG.