100,000 policemen scrutinised for criminal connections, SC told

Further screening of 12,000 cops was being done to check involvement in criminal activities

KARACHI: Over 100,000 policemen have been scrutinised for their involvement in criminal activities while 11,600 of them are being re-scrutinised, the Supreme Court (SC) was informed on Thursday.

This disclosure was made in a report submitted by DIG Sanaullah Abbasi, head of the committee constituted by the apex court to scrutinise and screen cops with patchy records. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim, was hearing a case regarding cops with patchy records at the SC’s Karachi Registry.

A day earlier, the Sindh police’s Counter-Terrorism Department had claimed that SP Chaudhry Aslam’s personal guard was associated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and was involved in an attack on the police officer’s home.



At the outset of the hearing, DIG Abbasi filed an interim report saying the committee had scrutinised the service record of 100,000 policemen who were screened for involvement in crimes during the process.

The said scrutiny of 12,000 was initiated again to thoroughly check their involvement in criminal activities.

DIG Abbasi said the services of eight policemen with patchy record were terminated, while 84 others were forcibly retired.



He said another 250 policemen, who were found unfit for field postings, were sent to the headquarters where punishment will be awarded to them under the law upon fulfilment of the requirements. The DIG added that 30 cops had voluntarily retired.

The committee’s head informed the apex court that scrutiny of remaining 11,658 was still under way. He sought time to file a report once the scrutiny process was completed.

Also comprising Justices Qazi Faiz Isa and Faisal Arab, the bench allowed time and adjourned hearing till the next session at the Karachi Registry.

Appointments corruption case

The same bench also allowed time to the National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor till March 25 to file a reference against certain police officers, including former Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, for their involvement in cases relating to corruption in appointments.



Previously, the court had directed the national anti-corruption watchdog to inquire into corruption and illegal appointments in the Sindh Reserve Police in the light of the findings of the SC-appointed committee.

The prosecutor said an investigation team had been constituted to investigate the fake appointments in the police and corruption in such appointments. He sought a month to complete the investigation.

The prosecutor also requested time to complete the investigation into corruption in the purchase of uniforms and repairs of vehicles in the police department, which was granted till April 10.