Law enforcers threaten to break law

Sindh Reserve Police march to Bilawal House against termination

KARACHI: Sindh police commandoes who are protesting their termination have warned the government of creating a law and order crisis unless their jobs are restored.

"Do not forget we are trained commandoes," said one of the protesting commandoes, Ikhlaq. "We know all the sensitive installations in Karachi. So please don't force us to become terrorists and give us our rights."



Around 1,800 policemen, illegally appointed in the Sindh Reserve Police between 2012 and 2014, were dismissed on May 11. According to Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja, 1,100 policemen were given the jobs in 2012, while 860 were inducted in 2014.

Following the dismissal, the terminated cops staged protests outside Karachi Press Club. The situation turned violent on Wednesday when the protesting cops marched towards Bilawal House to stage a sit-in. Before they could start protesting, the security personnel stopped them at Bilawal Chowrangi and began taking them into custody.



Nearly one dozen protesters were apprehended and were shifted to an undisclosed location. "We thought better to escape because we could not want to fight with our own 'paity bhais'," said Muhammad Ali, referring to a phrase policemen call each other.

The dismissed personnel of the Sindh Reserve Police belonged to Karachi and different districts of Sindh. They were posted in various specialised units of the Sindh police, such as Special Security Unit and Rapid Response Force, from where they have been performing their duties at sensitive installations as well as security for VVIPs.



"Do justice and save yourself and the city as well," said another protester, Iqbal. "Take it [warning] seriously. Once we become terrorists, it would be difficult for us to get back to the police."

The agitated policemen felt the department does not do justice to those who lose their lives in the line of duty. "How can you forget those who gave their blood for you?" questioned a dismissed cop, Nadeem Ahmed.

The protesters pointed out that the 13 commandoes who died in the bus bombing near Razzakabad Training Centre in 2013 were also part of their group. However, a Sindh Police spokesperson denied this claim. "Only three of the 13 commandoes belonged to the Sindh Reserve Police while the rest belonged to Shaheed Benazirabad Police District," he said. "The police department is already helping their families."

Failed negotiations

Before marching towards Bilawal House, a seven-member delegation of the protesting cops met provincial home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal. Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Maher, Counter-Terrorism Department Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi, DIG South Munir Shaikh, Sindh Reserve Police DIG Asif Ejaz Shaikh, Establishment AIG Naeem Shaikh and Saddar SP Dr Samiullah were also present at the meeting.



The home minister told us that he could do anything for us, said one of the delegation members. "He asked us to cooperate with them because if we didn't, they would not be able to recruit more cops in the Sindh police," he said, adding that these officials were afraid that inquiries would be initiated against them as they all recruited illegally during their tenures.

On the other hand, a home department spokesperson claimed that Siyal asked the delegation about their reservations and assured them of his full cooperation.

Bilawal steps in

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked the Sindh government to sort out the issue as per the Supreme Court guidelines. He suggested forming a ministerial committee to take up the job restorations issue and decide on a case-to-case basis.

"PPP never supported, abetted or initiated snatching livelihoods," said a statement issued from Bilawal House. He stressed, however, that those who violated the rules and regulations and hired illegally should be taken to task and punished. But the poor recruits who fulfilled all the relevant criteria of merit and underwent rigorous physical training, need not be victimised, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2016.