Opposition cries foul as select committee gives nod to police law

PTI leader vows to approach court to ‘expose PPP’s intention of usurping police chief’s powers’

KARACHI: With the Sindh government and opposition members failing to reach a consensus over amendments to the Police Order 2002, the select committee formed to deliberate the law finalised it in its seventh consecutive meeting and sent it to the Sindh Assembly for approval.

The select committee, headed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Ismail Rahu, and comprising government and opposition lawmakers had been debating on the law for the past one week.

On Tuesday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had directed the provincial government on Tuesday to finalise the law for police reforms by May 21. During the hearing, the court had remarked that newspapers were publishing reports about differences between the opposition and the government on the proposed law. Petitioner Karamat Ali argued that the Sindh government wants to frame a set of rules according to its own choice for the appointments, transfers, postings and promotions of police officials in the proposed law.

Approved anyway

On Wednesday, the committee's members still couldn't reach an agreement regarding the amendments being made to the law, but the committee's chairperson decided to send it to the assembly.

Soon after the meeting came to an end, the opposition members, rejecting the draft bill, announced their intention to write to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to expose the Sindh government's intention to make the IGP and the entire police force subservient to it. "The provincial government wants to keep all powers of appointments, transfers and postings of police personnel under its control," remarked Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly, Firdous Shamim Naqvi. "This is completely against the court's decision to empower the IGP. We can't accept this law," he added.

Naqvi, who is a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was addressing a joint press conference with other lawmakers from opposition parties. Referring to the Sindh Assembly session, where the law was introduced a few days ago, Naqvi recalled: "We were informed that Police Order 2002 was being revived in letter and spirit. But they have now tampered with the bill and made drastic changes, making the IGP toothless."

Opposition's complaints

According to the opposition leader, the government had refused to provide them minutes of the meetings, which reflected their nefarious design. "Around six meetings were held," he said. "Despite our repeated requests, they have not yet provided us the minutes."

He added that the PPP, which has always played the "Sindh Card" for its vested interests wanted to hatch a conspiracy to control the police. "The Civil society has also supported us and we are launching a campaign against this draft," he said.

Khawaja Izharul Hasan of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan was of the view that the PPP government had staged a drama of making a committee and taking the opposition into confidence with regard to this law. "There was no need for the committee if they had to take a unilateral decision without incorporating the opposition's suggestion into the law," he said.

The contention

During the press conference, the opposition members claimed that all powers of appointment, from constable to DSP, were given to the provincial government, ignoring the IGP, who heads the police force in the province. Shaharyar Mahar of the Grand Democratic Alliance said that the PPP wanted to bring back the system of 2011 in the name of Police Order 2002. According to the PPP's amendment bill, the government of Sindh would have the authority to even replace the IGP.



MQM-P's Muhammad Hussain said that the court has provided an opportunity to change the current system of police which is full of errors, but the PPP wanted to bring a system that would place the police department under its control. "But this is against the judicial orders," he added.

Govt responds

On the other hand, PPP's Rahu told a press conference said that they had finalised the law after consultation from various stakeholders and will submit it in the assembly soon.  "We have to make the public safety commission, giving it all powers for appointments, transfers and postings," he said, adding that the IG and Chief Minister will also consult each other on matters relating to the police. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2019.