KARACHI: Question mark over sudden reshuffle in police dept
By Arman Sabir
KARACHI, April 19: A police department reshuffle has come so immediately after the departure of former Sindh inspector-general Jahangir Mirza that it has fuelled speculation that political reasons are behind the sudden transfer of high-ranking officials, it emerged on Thursday.
Sources in the police department told Dawn that a delay in the appointment of a new inspector-general has enabled police high-ups to settle old scores with those officials who previously enjoyed the approbation of Mr Mirza, who retired on April 14.
The federal government cancelled the transfer orders of Labour and Manpower Secretary Malik Asif Hayat, one-time Punjab inspector-general of police, when he declined to take over as Sindh IG on health grounds. Additional Sindh IG Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui was asked to fill in as provincial police chief.
The first wave of transfers came three days before Mr Mirza’s retirement and those who were affected by them were Headquarters DIG Mohammad Akbar, Establishment DIG Akhtar Memon and Assistant IG (Operations) Abdul Razzak Cheema.
Mr Mirza, who was in Islamabad when the transfer orders of his trusted officers were issued, asked them not to relinquish their charge.
He asked the authorities to allow the officers to continue as long as he was in office. His request was granted. The sources quoted Mr Mirza as saying in his farewell speech that some police officers who were in his good books might have to suffer. His prediction did not take long to come true.
Mr Akbar was shortly afterwards re-designated as DIG Training – an otherwise important post that carries little influence. Messrs Memon and Cheema were directed to report to the Central Police Office. In other words, they were kicked upstairs. Anti-Car Lifting Cell SSP Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, who was credited with bringing down carjackings in the city, was transferred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment and in his place SSP Dr Sanaullah Abbasi was posted. Munir Shaikh was posted as SSP Driving Licence branch and Asif Ejaz was posted as Jamshed Quarters TPO against a vacant post. Malir TPO Mian Jamshed was transferred and in his place Altaf Leghari was posted.
Officials privy to the goings-on in the police department point out that posts of town police officers could be obtained at a sum ranging between Rs1 million to Rs1.2 million – an allegation stoutly denied by the police department.
They add that in the past the practice of securing a post in the police department by offering inducements to seniors was limited to station house officers. Depending on the location of a police station, the post of a station house officer could be obtained in return for between Rs500,000 and Rs700,000.
They point out that officials who were previously removed on some charges, including those of misuse of powers, are now jockeying to get back to their posts. For instance, they say, Mr Leghari has staged a comeback to his post of TPO Malir.
Noorul Haq Rind has been called from the interior of Sindh and posted as Orangi TPO in place of Farrukh Bashir, who has been posted as Korangi TPO. Sohail Chattha, who previously held the post of Korangi TPO, has been directed to report to the CPO. The sources said that some more transfers were on the cards. Kemari TPO Javed Mehr, North Nazimabad TPO Naeem Shaikh, Gulberg TPO Sharjeel Kharal, Gulshan TPO Saquib Ismail, Landhi TPO Shad Ibne Masih and New Karachi TPO Khurram Waraich are likely to be transferred.
According to the Police Order 2002, the provincial police chief is entrusted with powers to post a district police officer or a town police officer.
KARACHI, April 19: A police department reshuffle has come so immediately after the departure of former Sindh inspector-general Jahangir Mirza that it has fuelled speculation that political reasons are behind the sudden transfer of high-ranking officials, it emerged on Thursday.
