Sindh Police to transfer SHOs ahead of polls

Police station chiefs across the province to be reshuffled as per the plan

KARACHI: After the massive reshuffle in the Sindh Police's senior hierarchy, the department is planning to change all the Station House Officers (SHOs) across the province ahead of the 2018 general elections scheduled for July 25.

A source in the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that a list of competent officers has been drawn up and they will be posted to police stations across the province, particularly in Karachi.

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Last month, the caretaker setup, with the approval of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had transferred Sindh Police chief AIG Allah Dino Khowaja, as well as three AIGs, over 20 DIGs, 50 SPs and SSPs and 179 DSPs, as part of the efforts to make the upcoming polls free and fair. IG AD Khowaja was replaced by the current Sindh Police chief, IG Amjad Saleemi.

"SHOs will also be transferred ahead of the coming general elections," confirmed SP Tauqeer Naeem. According to another official of the police department, SHOs who have no political affiliations and clean records, as well as those awaiting postings for some time would be given priority.



In September last year, in a bid to eliminate corruption from the police department, particularly at the Station House Officers (SHOs) level, the then Sindh police chief Inspector General of Police (IGP) Allah Dino Khowaja had ordered to ensure the stability and tenure of police officers posted as SHOs, adding that no SHO would be transferred or removed prematurely without compelling reasons.

According to the plan, if an SHO was transferred, the reasons for the transfer would be recorded and in case of misconduct, departmental proceedings would be initiated against him or her. A committee was also formed, comprising senior police officials to make a pool of honest and reliable SHOs at the zonal levels, but it has yet to be made functional.