50 ex-SRP personnel taken into custody after clash

Dismissed cops clashed with the police when trying to march to Governor House

KARACHI: As many as 50 personnel of the Sindh Reserve Police (SRP) who were dismissed from service were taken into custody after they scuffled with the police while attempting to march towards Governor House on Monday. The police also apprehended one man who attempted to commit suicide by setting himself on fire.

A large number of ex-SRP personnel gathered outside the Karachi Press Club to stage a protest against their dismissal from service. The protesters were dismissed from service in 2012 and 2014. The protest caused a massive traffic jam on the roads surrounding the Karachi Press Club.

An extra contingent of police was deployed around the press club to avoid any untoward incident. The protesters chanted slogans against their dismissal and demanded their restoration. The situation turned violent when the protesters started marching towards the governor and chief minister houses. Artillery Maidan SHO Salman Waheed said that the protesters became violent and started attacking the police by hurling stones when the police tried to stop them from marching towards the red zone.



"This is not the first time these ex-cops have held a protest," explained the officer. "We had already warned them that they would not be allowed to march towards the governor or CM house but they tried to take the law into their own hands by attacking the police, compelling the cops to take action against them."

He said that nearly 2,000 SRP personnel who were appointed on 'political quota' were dismissed from service between 2012 and 2014, adding that re-examination was scheduled for them for their reappointment but only 160 candidates were declared successful. Nearly 50 protesters, including Shakir who attempted to commit suicide by pouring kerosene on himself, were taken into custody.

The protesters, however, rejected the claims about their appointments being made on political grounds. "Was there nobody to dismiss us from service when our colleagues were embracing martyrdom in the Karachi operation?" questioned one of the protesters, Sadaruddin. "Many of us have even had special commando training and we don't have any other opportunities except to join the force." The protesters said that the government and police department should review their decision about reinstating the dismissed cops.