IG Sindh to be indicted for contempt of court

Provincial govt had deputed Phulpoto to anti-corruption dept in breach of court orders

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan will indict Inspector General (IG) Sindh Police on February 2 for transferring an official to the anti-corruption department in flagrant violation of the court’s order.

On Wednesday, the three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, took up 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 rank 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 breach of the court’s order.

On December 9, 2015, the bench had already rejected an unconditional apology tendered by IG Sindh Police Ghulam Haider Jamali for transferring the official to the anti-corruption department.

During the hearing, Shahid Bajwa, who appeared on behalf of IG Sindh, again submitted an apology but the bench rejected it.

Justice Hani remarked that it was not only a mistake but a deliberate act committed in violation of the court’s order.

The bench appointed additional advocate general Sindh, Sarwar Khan, as prosecutor in this contempt case. It also asked IG Sindh and Phulpoto to remain present on February 2, so that a charge could be framed against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2016.