KARACHI: In order to boost the morale of the Sindh police, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday held a meeting with a delegation of senior police officers headed by Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar and urged them to continue their services with same spirit and “leave the rest on him”.

The meeting held here at the CM House was attended by all additional IGs and DIGs working in the province.

The chief minister, at the outset of the meeting, appreciated the services rendered by the Sindh police in restoration of law and order in the province, particularly in Karachi.

“You have laid [down] lives in the line of duty to restore peace in the city,” he told the policemen. “It is the police which have worked out heinous crime cases professionally and brought terrorists to book,” he said.

CM Shah further said that the police force working in Sindh was thoroughly professional and had thwarted terrorist attacks on the Karachi Stock Exchange, Chinese consulate general and various other incidents.

He said the provincial government had always strengthened the police by upgrading its training centres, providing them with latest equipment, arms and ammunition and important gadgets and added the police also demonstrated their professional skill and bravery in the field.

Mr Shah said that he had always given full space to the police to work freely and impartially.

“I don’t believe in interfering in the police matters that is why you [police] have shown good performance, integrity and devotion,” he told the officers.

He said that some recent happenings had created unrest and resentment in the police ranks. But, “don’t worry, I, as head of the provincial government, am with you and would never let you be demoralised at any stage”, he said.

“I have adopted the policy of non-interference in the police matters and would never allow it to be violated,” he added.

The chief minister urged IGP Mahar and other senior police officers to inculcate the same spirit and morale in the lower ranks of the police so that they continue their professional services with same dedication.

The police officers present in the meeting thanked the chief minister for his support, encouragement and guidance.

Ex-police chiefs’ body expresses concerns

The Association of Former Inspectors General of Police (AFIGP) has expressed grave concern on the Oct 19 incident in which the high command of the Sindh police was reportedly “ridiculed” and “mishandled”.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, it said that the incident had a very negative impact on the jurisdictional integrity and morale of the entire police force.

It said the senior officers opted to go on long leaves rightly because they were feeling the “heartache” and “resentment” due to the unfortunate events following the incident. The response of the Sindh police “has been measured and mature which has contained the situation”, it added.

The AFIGP said it had full confidence in the inquires initiated at senior forums and hoped that the probes would address all aspects of the incident and just and transparent measures would be taken to avoid repetition of such mistakes in future.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020