Sindh IGP’s contract terminated

Islamabad IGP Wajid Durrani tipped for Sindh IGP, speculate officials.

KARACHI: Capital City Police Officer, Karachi, Fayyaz Leghari has been assigned the additional charge of Sindh Inspector General of Police after the prime minister terminated the contract of Sindh IGP Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak on Friday.

Islamabad IGP Wajid Durrani and Fayyaz Leghari are being considered for the post. Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) additional director-general Javed Bukhari is expected to be the new FIA director-general, officials revealed. Names of the new IGP and FIA director-general will be announced by the federal government today (on Saturday).

“Almost all matters regarding the appointment of a new IGP in Sindh have been finalised,” an official told The Express Tribune, not wishing to be named until the official notifications are issued.

Former Sindh IGP Khattak had assumed charge as CCPO Karachi by replacing Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui in March 2008 after the Pakistan Peoples Party came to power. Later, Khattak took the charge as IGP after Dr Shoaib Suddle was transferred and posted to the Intelligence Bureau (IB). After retirement in 2009, Khattak was given a one-year extension via a contract. In December 2010, he was again granted an extension.

Coalition partner the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had objected to the government’s decision to twice extend the tenures of Khattak and Waseem Ahmed, the then CCPO. However, the matter was later resolved among the parties during that time.

Khattak quit on Friday, however, after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani terminated the contracts of nine top bureaucrats following the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The new contenders

Both Durrani and Leghari are grade 21 officers. They are to be promoted to grade 22 soon, officials revealed. “There are more chances of Durrani becoming the new Sindh IGP,” they speculated. An IGP can be either grade 21 or 22.

Wajid Durrani also held various posts in Karachi. Before being appointed the Islamabad IGP, he was Additional Sindh IGP. Presently, Durrani is in Karachi.

Officials said Sukkur Regional Police Officer Mushtaq Shah was a possible contender — albeit a weak one — for the IGP’s post. He is a junior officer in comparison, as he was recently promoted to grade 21. “It is also possible that Leghari would continue holding the additional charge of IGP and in this situation, Mushtaq Shah or Criminal Investigation Department Additional IG Saud Mirza would be the new chief of Karachi police,” officials explained when asked to comment on possibilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2011.