KARACHI: Three senior police officers have gone on leave reportedly as a form of protest as they were not happy with the authorities concerned who allegedly did not give ‘due’ consideration to their seniority during the recent postings and transfers, it emerged on Saturday.

The action by the three additional inspectors general (Addl. IG) — Imran Yaqoob Minhas, Munir Ahmed Shaikh and Farhat Ali Junejo — of the Sindh police has prompted IGP Riffat Mukhtar to delegate their responsibilities to other officers including the newly appointed Karachi police chief.

A police source said that the three officers were senior to the incumbent IGP.

A notification issued by the Sindh police chief stated that Addl. IG-Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind would look after the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Establishment as well as Special Branch during the leave period of Mr Minhas.

Separate notifications stated the Addl. IG-Training Abdul Qadir Qayum would also look after the investigation and operations during the leave period of Mr Shaikh and Mr Junejo.

Sources said that the establishment division as well as the Sindh government’s services and general administration department did not given ‘due’ consideration to the seniority of the three officers during a recent shake-up.

They said that last month these officers had stayed away from some public engagements of IGP Mukhtar the day he took over as the provincial police chief as a form of silent protest over the appointment of a “junior officer” as their boss.

On Aug 19, IGP Mukhtar, a Grade-21 PSP officer, had replaced Ghulam Nabi Memon as the provincial police chief.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023