Sindh may surrender services of its top cop to Centre

PPP’s government had earlier sent Allah Dino Khawaja on ‘forced leave’ due to differences on multiple issues

KARACHI: The Sindh government may surrender the services of Sindh Inspector General of Police Allah Dino Khawaja to the federal government.

Moreover, the name of the new IG has also been shortlisted, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

AD Khawaja was appointed as IG Sindh Police in March 2016 after the federal government removed former Sindh IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali from his post.

“Under the existing rules of business, any provincial government can surrender the services of any federal officer posted in the province through a notification issued by the Establishment Division,” revealed a well-placed source in Sindh police to The Express Tribune.



“People should not forget what the provincial government did with former IGP Sindh Iqbal Mehmood. His services were also surrendered to the federal government after differences cropped up between the government and the IG over.”

After assuming charge, Khawaja led a three-member fact-finding committee to inquire into the allegation of corruption, illegal appointments in police. The findings of the reports led to the sacking of Jamali over corruption charges.

On December 19, Khawaja was sent on forced leave by the provincial government while the responsibilities of the IG Sindh were handed over to Additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Mahar. However, after a few days of the controversy, he resumed charge of his office.

He was sent on forced leave, but after criticism from civil society and the court’s stay, the Sindh government was forced to reconsider its decision.



The PPP’s government had sent the top police official on ‘forced leave’ due to differences on multiple issues relating to recruitment, appointments and transfer and postings in the Sindh police.

“Last time, besides transfer and postings of police officials, the dispute between Khawaja and one of Asif Ali Zardari’s close aides – a businessman – after a police raid at a sugarcane mill in Sindh was the major reason,” a senior police official explained.

“But this time, the transfer and posting issue yet again became the main reason.”

Tussle between Sindh IG and govt

The issue of transfers and postings of certain police officers in the Sindh Police has apparently created a rift between Khawaja and the provincial government.

Asad Aijaz Malhi, who was transferred and posted as Tando Muhammad Khan SP by the IG Sindh has now been removed and Naseem Ara Panhwar has been appointed as his replacement. Panhwar is a known supporter of the PPP. Panhwar was removed from the post of the SP Tando Muhammad Khan soon after Khawaja took charge in March last year.

The recent appointment of Rao Anwar as SSP Malir did not go down well with the police chief.



Who will be the next Sindh IG?

Former Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo, who has been serving as chairman of the anti-corruption department, is on the top while the name of Additional IG Research and Development Abdul Majeed Dasti is also being considered for the post.

“There are three most senior police officers - Additional IG Traffic Khadim Hussain Bhatti, Ghulam Qadir Thebo and Majeed Dasti. They are senior to Khawaja but Thebo’s name is on the top of the list,” explained a source.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2017.