Maladministration creeps into police ranks as IG ‘loses control’ of dept

AD Khawaja pens letter to CM, saying intervention needed to prevent law and order crisis

KARACHI: Intervention is needed in order to save the police department from falling into complete anarchy, warned Sindh Inspector General of Police Allah Dino Khawaja in a letter to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The IG said the situation may deteriorate into a state of complete maladministration if action is not taken. He also cautioned that the situation may have serious implications on the law and order of the province.

The Sindh government earlier withdrew the IG’s powers to transfer and post SPs and SSPs in the province and instituted changes in the ranks of the police department in a massive reshuffle. Sources privy to the development had told The Express Tribune that more than 17 SSPs and SPs were transferred as a trickledown effect of differences between the Sindh IG and home minister.

The Sindh police chief told the chief minister that he was no longer in control of his department, as government departments were meddling in police affairs, crippling its entire administrative structure.



"Since one month, a number of administrative orders have been taken by the home department and services and general administration department, which undermine the administrative control of the IG over police officers, including powers to grant casual leaves to subordinates,” read a copy of the letter obtained by The Express Tribune. “A number of staff officers serving at the Central Police Office were summoned by the home ministry and unnecessarily pressured. This situation is ultimately leading to the weak command and control over subordinates," it stated.

"While on one hand, during the recent massive reshuffle of senior police officers, the input of the IG was not sought, on the other even the important staff officers forming the core team of the IG posted at the CPO, including the operations AIG and finance DIG were transferred without any justification," argued the letter.

"In most cases officers were transferred without completing reasonable tenures and on grounds other than administrative exigency, which has led to the complete breakdown of daily routine work at CPO and the paralysing of the police as an organisation."



IG Khawaja went on to say that the recommendations sent by his office in regards to postings, transfers and disciplinary proceedings against certain officers are being consistently ignored, which is encouraging misconduct.

The letter went on to mention discussions on police reforms and the administrative independence of the IG during the last apex committee meeting, where it was resolved to empower the police chief for effective command and control over his subordinates. The letter stated that unfortunately subsequent orders issued by the home department negate that decision.

"I may further submit that even under the existing Police Act, 1861, the IG is vested with administrative control over the police force in the province," read the letter.

As an IG it falls under my responsibility to bring these issues to your attention in order for you to take remedial measures, said IG Khawaja in the letter.



"I request you to please intervene to save the department from drifting into complete maladministration. If timely actions are not taken to reverse the tide the situation may also have serious implications on the law and order situation in the province,” pleaded the IG in his letter to Shah.

The tussle between IG Khawaja and the Sindh government began over the transfer and postings of police officers but came to the surface when the Sindh government sent IG Khawaja on forced leave. However, IG Khawaja resumed charge of his office after the court intervened. The provincial top cop has offered to surrender his services, but the matter is currently in court.