One month granted to complete proceedings against 21 police officers

Appointments made in Sindh police department since 2012 being scrutinised, SC informed

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) gave on Friday one-month to the federal and provincial governments to complete departmental proceedings against 21 senior police officers involved in illegal appointments.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading a three-judge bench, also warned the authorities concerned to furnish written explanations in case no action was taken against such officers.

The bench, which also comprised Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, passed these directives on a report submitted by an SC-appointed committee tasked with investigating illegal appointments in the Sindh police in different districts of the province since 2012.

The apex court also restrained the authorities concerned from transferring the committee's head, Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi, from his post till further orders. In the meantime, AIG Abbasi was directed to complete investigations of appointments made in the remaining eight districts of the province within one month and submit a report to the court.



Earlier, the officer informed the apex court that the appointments made in police in all the districts since 2012 were being scrutinised. The process of scrutiny in 22 districts had been completed and all illegal appointments were nullified, he said.

The AIG added that departmental proceedings had been initiated against officers involved in such illegal appointments and charge-sheet was sent to the Establishment Division for action against nine senior police officers.

The court was informed that the National Accountability Bureau had also initiated an inquiry against some senior police officers. AIG Abbasi maintained that two months were required to complete scrutiny in the remaining eight districts of Sukkur and Larkana range.

Later, Advocate-General (AG) Barrister Zamir Ghumro informed the SC that 2,700 senior and junior police officials were proceeded against and removed from service as they were found involved in criminal activities.



The AG added that in compliance with the court's order, all the removed officials appeared in a test conducted by the National Testing Service. Only 141 out of 2,750 candidates passed the test, Barrister Ghumro informed the court.

A law officer informed the apex court that the matter of initiating departmental proceedings against nine senior police officers was pending before the Establishment Division.