Replace IGP: Centre persists, Sindh resists

Karachi
The Sindh government is under tremendous pressure from the Centre as well as the military top brass to replace the provincial police chief with an official who can put the operation against criminals in Karachi back on the right track, The News has learnt.
Coordination between Rangers and police has reduced to its lowest since the operation was launched in September 2013. In July 2014, the provincial government had asked then IGP Iqbal Mehmood to relinquish his charge and appointed Ghulam Hyder Jamali in his place.
“The Centre is pushing the provincial government to appoint former IGP Iqbal Mehmood or Captain (retd) Mir Zubair Mehmood as the new police chief,” a senior interior ministry official told The News. “However, the provincial government has been reluctant so far,” he added.
The official said federal authorities as well as military high-ups were unsatisfied with Jamali’s performance. At first, he was temporarily given the charge of the police chief and then given more time to prove his worth.
“The Safoora Chowrangi attack has proved to be the turning point and Jamali might even face legal action after he is removed from the post.”
The official said the results achieved by Rangers and the Karachi police in the first phase of the operation were going to waste because of the IGP.
“The trio of former Sindh Rangers director general Maj General Rizwan Akhtar, who is now the Inter-Services Intelligence chief, former IGP Iqbal Mehmood and former Karachi police chief Shahid Hayat, who is now heading the Federal Investigation Agency, had launched the operation and was the best team to keep it going, “ he said.
“But after these officials were replaced, the operation has lost its momentum and direction.”
The official said first former Karachi police chief Shahid Hayat was removed under the garb of the apex court’s directives although many OPS officials were continuing to serve on the same posts and then Mehmood was told to leave his post.
“Although Karachi remained peaceful for a month after the raid on Muttahida Qaumi Movement headquarters Nine Zero, the past few weeks have been nightmarish as many police officials including an SP, two DSPs and an inspector as well as prominent personalities like Sabeen Mahmud and Prof Dr. Waheed-ur-Rehman were murdered during this period and an American national, Dr Debra Lobo, was also injured in an attack,” he explained.
“The attack on a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community on May 13 has tarnished the image of the country and put a question mark over the credibility, performance and capabilities of its law enforcement agencies.”
The official said besides failing in bringing the law and order situation under control, Jamali was also involved in appointing some incompetent DSPs, SPs and SSPs on orders from “above”. These officers, he added, never listened to the IGP himself.
“Financial irregularities, malpractices and incompetence in the police department are demoralising honest and dedicated officers and that is another reason that the federal and other authorities are concerned.”
The official said the Sindh government kept reminding the Centre that under the 18th constitutional amendment, the former was responsible for maintaining law and order in the province. A government spokesperson said the IGP had not been asked to relinquish his charge so far.