Sindh minister seeks removal of police chief

Karachi: The provincial law minister of Sindh on Monday said the government would write a letter to the federal government seeking removal of the police chief in pursuance of the cabinet decision made a couple of days ago.

Zia Lunjar, the Sindh law minister, talking to the media said the government was drawing the draft of the letter to be written to Islamabad within two days to recall Allah Dino Khawaja, the inspector-general (IG) of Sindh police to the federal government.

He said a decision regarding the new police chief would be taken within a week.

The law minister said currently two officers were being considered. Nevertheless, it was likely that the government might prefer Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti as the new police chief.

The Sindh government had a tiff with the federal government over transfer of Khawaja, who became an undesirable officer for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government for defying diktats from the party leadership.

In April this year, the government had ordered the transfer of Khawaja, but the matter was taken to the Sindh High Court by some members of the civil society. The court struck down the government order and ordered Khawaja to continue as police chief.

The petitioners also expressed their disappointment over the Sindh cabinet decision of taking up the issue of Khawaja’s removal saying the decision was against the orders of Sindh High Court.

They criticised the government for rejecting the posting and transfer rules drafted by Khawaja.

The police chief in his recommendations suggested that the IG should be empowered to execute the transfers and posting of the police officer. However, the provincial cabinet rejected the proposal.

Lunjar said the government would file an appeal in the court regarding the transfer and posting rules of police force as the government should have its say on the transfers and posting instead of the police chief.