Illegal transfer: Sindh’s top cop faces contempt charges

Supreme Court refuses to accept IG Ghulam Haider Jamali’s unconditional apology

ISLAMABAD:

The top court on Wednesday rejected an unconditional apology tendered by Inspector General (IG) Sindh Police for transferring an official to the anti-corruption department in violation of the court’s order, deciding instead to charge the top cop with contempt of court.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by chief justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, was hearing the case of Saifullah Phulpoto’s unlawful transfer to the anti-corruption department.

Phulpoto had been inducted into Sindh police as an ASI in 1995 and rose to the rank of inspector, grade 16. In 2000, he was deputed to the anti-corruption department as an assistant director (grade-17). Over the years, he was promoted to the level of deputy director.

In 2013, the court declared Phulpoto’s deputation as void, directing him to return to his parent department, the police. However, after some time, the provincial government once again deputed Phulpoto to the anti-corruption department in violation of the court’s order

Phulpoto had been serving as assistant director for the anti-corruption in Ghotki until recently.

During Wednesday’s hearing, IG SIndh Ghulam Haider Jamali appeared before the bench and admitted that Phulpoto’s reappointment was illegal. Noting the implications of his admission, Jamali tendered an unconditional apology to the court.

But Justice Amir Hani Muslim expressed his anger and observed that if the IG was unaware of civil service laws, then he should not remain in uniform. He added that there was no need for a trial after his admission.

Meanwhile, AIG Establishment Naeem Sheikh lamented how they had just become a rubber stamp for the provincial authorities, issuing notifications based on directions received from high-ups.

Sheikh went on to admit before the court that he had issued the notification for Phulpoto’s deputation to the anti-corruption department.

At this the court pointed out that the summary for the appointment had been moved by the office of IG Sindh. It proceeded to inform Jamali that it was rejecting his unconditional apology and that he should prepare to defend himself before the court.

The court also hinted that it may initiate proceedings against chairman of the anti-corruption department.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till the second week of January.

The top court’s human rights cell had forwarded a clipping from a regional newspaper to then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Jawwad S Khawaja regarding 2,800 “illegal recruitments” in the provincial police department.

Later, on the orders of CJP Khawaja, the human rights cell of the apex court had sought a report from Sindh police chief on these appointments with the court ordering Jamali to furnish a report complete with details in a November hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2015.