Ghulam Azfar Mahesar removed as District East SSP for misconduct

In the aftermath of the circulation of a video on the media showing a suspected Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-London’s target killer claiming to have links with the Sindh chief minister, the services of a ‘controversial’ police officer of the Sindh police have been surrendered to the federal government.

Meanwhile, five more police officers serving at key posts in Karachi have also been transferred in a reshuffle in the department. It has also been learnt that the transfers of the provincial chief secretary and the inspector general of police (IGP) may also happen in the coming days.

A report prepared by a four-member committee, which was constituted under East Zone DIG Amir Farooqui by CM Murad Ali Shah to investigate how a video of the alleged target killer, Yousuf, alias Thelewala, was filmed and circulated when he was in custody, was submitted by the incumbent Sindh IGP, Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, to the CM on Monday.

“The IGP held a meeting with the CM and submitted a report to him,” said a senior police official who wished not to be named. “The meeting continued for around one-and-a-half hour and the IGP briefed the CM about the findings in the report.”

The official added that the CM was also informed by the IGP about the decision to surrender the services of District East SSP Ghulam Azfar Mahesar to the federal government over serious misconduct. However, the report has so far been kept confidential and not issued to the media.

“I am directed to refer to the subjected cited and to state that the services of Captain (retd) Ghulam Azfar Mahesar, PSP (BS-19), presently posted as SSP/District East, Karachi Range are no more required for Sindh province’s police due to serious misconduct. The detail statement of allegations will follow. It is therefore, requested that the services of above officer may kindly be surrendered to Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, in the interest of government work,” reads a notification issued by the AIG establishment to the Sindh chief secretary.

Apart from surrendering services of the SSP Mahesar, five more police officers of BS-18 and BS-19 grades have also been transferred on Monday.

According to the transfer and posting orders issued by the IGP, Tanveer Alam Odho, a BS-19 officer of Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) lately posted as SSP Principal SBB, EPTC Razzakabad, Karachi Range, has been transferred and posted with immediate effect and until further orders as the District East SSP replacing SSP Mahesar.

Fida Hussain Janwari, an officer of PSP serving as the Anti-Violent Crime Cell SSP, has been transferred and posted with immediate effect and until further orders as the District West SSP replacing Shoukat Ali Khatian who has been transferred and posted with immediate effect and until further order as the SSP Principal SBB, EPTC Razzakabad. Khatian will also hold the charge of the SSP Principal, PTC, Saeedabad.

Captain (retd) Ameer Saud serving as the district Sujawal SSP has been transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of the additional IG Karachi. Suhai Aziz who had been serving as the Clifton SP in District South has been transferred and posted as the District Sujawal SP.

The transfers were announced on the same day when the inquiry committee’s report on the controversial video of suspected target killer was submitted to the CM. Sources privy to the matter told The News that the reshuffle in the police force is likely to continue in the near future.

“The CM has declared it [Thelewala’s video] a conspiracy against him,” a source said on condition of anonymity. “The reason behind the recent transfers is to avoid any similar conspiracy and appoint reliable officers.”

The source added that the names of Inamullah Dharejo as the new Sindh chief secretary and Mushtaq Mahar and Abdul Majeed Dasti as the new IGP are being considered. However, a senior police official denied such news when contacted.

The alleged MQM target killer is believed to have been involved in 96 target killings. His arrest was disclosed by the District East police at a news conference last Wednesday.

However, when his video was circulated in which he claimed to have links with the CM, the CM clarified on Thursday that he had neither known Yousuf nor ever met him. The CM claimed that the video was a pre-planned conspiracy to circulate a “spoon-fed statement” of the suspect.