Govt plans new law to directly appoint DSPs

Complaint cells to be set up at district levels to deal with citizens’ problems

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to amend the Police Act, 1861 by introducing a provincial police authority chaired by the chief minister, a public grievances and redressal cell at police station, a change in the police cadre service by directly appointing deputy superintendents of police (DSP) and fixing the tenure of police officers.

A meeting was chaired by Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar where officials of the law, home and police departments discussed various amendments to colonial police act. “We have reviewed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa model of police system and are adopting some clauses from it,” said the law minister, adding that the provincial government is trying to make the police a community friendly force.

According to officials, the proposed provincial police authority headed by the chief minister will review the performance of the police and recommend necessary action. “The home minister will be its vice-chairperson with the inspector-general of police and home secretary as members,” revealed an official privy to the development.

The official added that complaints cells comprising retired police officers and bureaucrats will be set up at district levels to inquire into complaints lodged by people against police officials and recommend action against them.



Sources said that in this law, which will be called the Police Act, 2017, the tenure of police officers from top to bottom will be fixed. “Initially, it has been suggested to appoint the IG, additional IGs, SSPs, DSPs and even SHOs for a two-year period. The tenure will be subject to their performance and conduct,” a law officer who was present at the meeting said.

Briefing about the police cadre, an official said that during the first government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had directly appointed DSPs and Benazir Bhutto, in her second government, followed this practice where large number of kith and kin of PPP leaders were inducted as DSPs.

According to police records, a number of PPP leaders relatives were inducted as DSPs. They included Mohammad Ali Wasan, nephew of Manzoor Wasan, Zulfiqar Ali Talpur, a relative of Yousaf Talpur, Javed Zamir Farooqi, a relative of the late Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Ghulam Sarwar Bhayo, a relative of former MNA Mir Altaf Bhayo, Mohammad Brahmani, former president of the People’s Student Federation in Dadu, Ali Sher Jakhrani, secretary to PPP leader Nisar Khuhro and Ashiq Ali Buzdar, son of former MPA Ghulam Mustafa Buzdar.

Jan Khalid Mustafa Kori, former political secretary to Asif Ali Zardari, Jam Zafarullah Dharejo, brother of ex-MNA Jam Safiullah Dharejo, Naeem Ara Panhawar, former president of the women’s wing of PPP in Mirpurkhas, Aijaz Ali Shah, nephew of PPP leader Shafqat Hussain Shah, Pir Syed Ahmed Tariq Shah, grandson of former MNA Pir Abdul Qadir Shah and Abid Hussain Qaimkhani, brother of Perveen Qaimkhani who was in charge of the PM House in Naudero were among others who were appointed DSPs.



“In present circumstances, the direct appointment of DSPs can be challenged in the court, which is why the government is going to insert a new clause in this law,” sources said, adding that police constables, assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) and assistant superintendents police (ASP) who qualify the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations can be directly appointed. After the upcoming law, DSPs will be recruited too.

“Public grievance and redressal cells at police station levels will address petty issues of people. A duty officer will be deputed at all police stations to hear the people’s minor disputes and resolve the same. This aims to discourage the practice of registering FIRs,” the spokesperson of the law department explained.

The option of community policing in the province and a fixed term for the investigation of cases was also discussed at the meeting, but these issues will be discussed again at another meeting to give it final shape. According to Lanjar, they will be finalising the Police Act, 2017 and will pass the same in the assembly soon. "The world has set new precedents in every field, but we are still following colonial laws. There is dire need to bring in reforms," he said.