PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved on Wednesday the standard operating procedures (SOPs) at police check posts and for snap checking that was issued in light of the Amal Umar case. Presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Public Safety and Police Complaint Commission (PPS and PCC) at the CM Secretariat, the CM expressed anger over the incident of police firing on November 22 which resulted in the killing of a citizen, Nabeel Hoodbhoy, son of Aziz Suleman, and injury to another citizen, Raza Imam.
Briefing about the incident, Karachi Police AIG Ghulam Nabi Memon said that Raza and Nabeel were travelling in a car from Khayaban-e-Hafiz. "They were asked to stop at Khayaban-e-Hafiz but they sped off and the police chased them till PACC where the police party opened fire on them. Nabeel sustained a fatal injury and died on the spot," said the AIG.
Earlier, South SSP Sheeraz Nazir, who had gone to the site to investigate the matter on the day of the incident, had said that the accused officials had stated in their statement that the car was found parked near a pavement, which implied that it had stopped before the police began shooting.
According to Nazir's account from November 22, the police officials fled the site after shooting down Hoodbhoy and Raza without informing the relevant authorities of the incident, not even reporting the incident to the police base. "The citizens who fell victim to their firing didn't resist the attack as they didn't have any weapons," the SSP had said, adding that "police officials are guilty of committing the offence."
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At the meeting on Wednesday, AIG Memon told the meeting that Head Constable (HC) Aftab fired five rounds from his pistol, of which four were aerial shots and one was straight which resulted in the death of Nabeel.
Nabi informed the meeting that the incident occurred near PACC, in the jurisdiction of Civil Lines Police Station. He added that an FIR of the case has been registered against the police party which comprised Sub-inspector Abdul Ghaffar of Gizri Police Station, HC Aftab and Constable Muhammad Ali Shah. He said that the accused cops are in police custody.
Nabi further briefed the meeting that an investigation into the incident has been directed under South Investigation SSP Roy Aijaz and the team includes South SSP Sheeraz Nazir, DSP Akhtar and Inspector Ghulam Ali. He added that another inquiry into the matter under Saddar SP Amjad Hayat has also been initiated.
Police SOPs
On the agenda for Wednesday's meeting was the incident of November 22 and the review of the SOPs and rules of engagement pertaining to the use of force as practiced by the Sindh Police as well as the implementation status of the orders of the Supreme Court in Amal Umar's case.
The meeting was informed that an SOP for 'police stop and search' has already been issued. Besides, it was told, that an aggressive campaign with regards to weapon handling was initiated after the Amal Umar incident and refresher courses on firing were also being given. Around 6,000 police officers have been trained so far while 7,000 official pistols were issued to the police officials of the city. The purchase of another 4,500 pistols is under process and a separate module is being prepared to train police officials on how they could exercise the right to defend themselves, the meeting was informed.
The CM approved the SOPs for police check posts and snap checking as directed in light of the Amal Umar case.
The objectives of the SOPs were to ensure that police officials deployed at check posts or for snap checking were properly trained, briefed and perform their duties under the given guidelines.
The use of lethal force should be limited as a last resort and police officials were directed to show maximum restraint while conducting raids and carrying out their duties. The SOPs further directed that police official should be trained to display decency, courtesy and patience while performing their duties and ensure that no violation of the given SOPs occurs.
'Restore public confidence'
The members of the commission urged AIG Memon to transfer police officials, including head constables, head muharrars, constables and others, who have been working at the same police station for several years.
The commission further urged the police to change the mindset of the police officials deputed at police stations. The commission stressed that people must feel safe and secure in the presence of police not threatened by them.
"The people of Karachi have reposed confidence in the police after the successful Karachi operation and now it is the responsibility of the police department to maintain it through its behaviour and actions," said the CM.
Through a resolution, the commission condemned the incident of November 22.
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The commission also expressed reservations on the refusal by Ziauddin Hospital to provide medical treatment to Nabeel's friend, Raza on November 22. The home secretary was directed to issue a circular to all public and private hospitals of the city to treat the injured in such cases. The home secretary was directed to initiate action against refusals as well.
Meanwhile, AIG Nabi brushed aside the impression of sending police officials on visa (drawing salaries without performing duty) and said that Karachi police have the strength of 34,000 but there are 7,700 vacancies. According to him, deployment at police stations has been counted as 18,670 and 2,095 cops at police offices.
Adviser to CM Barrister Murtaza Wahab, MPAs, Sharjeel Memon, Imdad Pitafi, Hasnain Mirza, Shamim Mumtaz, Muhammad Ali Aziz and Shahnaz Begum, Home Secretary Usman Chachar, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi, and commission members, Karamat Ali, Haji Nazim, Barrister Haya Imam, Rubina Brohi, advocate Jhamat Mal, Qurban Malano attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2019.
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