'Govt has no intentions to remove Sindh IG'

AG submits comments on 'forced leave' of top cop

KARACHI: The provincial government informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday that it had powers to remove the Sindh IG yet has no intentions to remove the current police chief.

Sindh advocate-general Zamir Ghumro contended before a two-judge bench that Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja had gone on leave last month on his own and has re-joined his office now.



SHC Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who was heading the bench, observed that the law relating to powers of the provincial government regarding the appointment and removal of the police chief will have to be examined in detail.

The judges found out that comments had not been filed on behalf of the interior ministry and the provincial director-general of Pakistan Rangers. Advocate Farooq H Naek, who represented the interior secretary, and the Rangers' law officer requested more time to file comments. The bench directed them to file the comments by January 15.

Case history

Last month, the court had directed the provincial government to deal with the matter of sending Khawaja on forced leave in accordance with the Supreme Court's order on the de-politicisation of the police force in the Karachi law and order suo motu case.



Cvil society organisations challenged the government's decision of sending the top cop on 'forced leave' days before former president Asif Ali Zardari's return to Pakistan.

The petitioners said the SC had issued orders for the de-politicisation of the police force and Khawaja had taken steps in accordance with these orders.

However, they alleged that the IG was sent on forced leave because the provincial authorities were against the merit-based appointments made by him.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2017.