Sindh govt moves to amend ‘outdated’ police laws

Wahab says new laws will facilitate both the police and public

KARACHI: Sindh Information Adviser Murtaza Wahab has said that the provincial government is bringing reforms to the policing system by amending the Police Act 1861. Speaking to media outside the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday, he said, "A subordinate committee related to this issue has been established under Minister of Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh, which will submit its report in a week and the final report will be presented as a legal draft in the Sindh Assembly for approval," said Wahab.

He also denied the rumour that provincial government wants to curtail the inspector-general's powers. "The existing Police Act is outdated. The new laws are being finalised after consultation with different stakeholders," he said.



Wahab also said that the police laws need to be amended in accordance with the present ground realities and passed through an objective and transparent procedure. "The Police Act of 1861 is not compatible with the contemporary age. It needs to be amended for resolving the investigation matters, medico-legal formalities, self-accountability of police and public complaints promptly."

Wahab, responding to a question, said that they were heading towards such a law-making process in which police laws would be compiled anew. This would strengthen the police as well as resolve the problems of the department. "In addition to this, the laws will ease the problems faced by police in registering FIRs and addressing public issues." This will facilitate the public. The police officials would also have to face the accountability process which will further ensure transparency.

Talking about opposition parties in Sindh Assembly who demanded the chief minister's resignation, he said, "Opposition should demonstrate a sense of responsibility and wisdom."

He, however, criticised the federal government for not releasing Sindh's due share and said, "Sindh is deprived of Rs90 billions from its due share."  The advisor deplored that the federal government had failed to play its neutral role in dealing with provincial government and demanded the prime minister to release Sindh's due share without further delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2019.