Ghani lambasts IGP for dispatching letter against high-profile transfers

Terms the move 'irresponsible' and a result of 'inconsistent approach'

KARACHI: Sindh Information, Archives and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani has denounced Sindh IGP Syed Kaleem Imam's move to dispatch a letter to the provincial chief secretary regarding the transfer of officials Khadim Hussain Rind and Dr Rizwan Ahmed, who are Grade 20 and 19 officials, respectively.

The information minister said that he had considered the IGP a "level-headed person" until he wrote the letter against high-profile transfers, while addressing a press conference on Saturday. "I now consider him irresponsible and [an official having an] inconsistent approach," the minister said.

Ghani clarified that the Sindh IGP is only authorised to order transfers within Sindh and it is at the provincial government's discretion to make decisions regarding inter-provincial transfers. The IGP, in no capacity, can request the federal government to consider his choice when finalising transfers, he said, terming this approach "irresponsible and inconsistent."

Sindh IGP writes letter against high-profile transfers

Referring to Imam's opinion on Rind, Ghani criticised him for "praising officials about whom he has had negative opinions in the past."

"[The] IGP wants to make a mockery of Sindh Police," he remarked.

The information minister pointed out that transfers of five IGPs took place in as many months in Punjab but no one bothered to write a letter regarding that development to anyone. "But Imam first wrote a letter on November 2, 2018, demanding that transfer of four officials, and later on November 26, 2018, reiterating the demand," he said.

"I don't know on whose directives the IGP is working," the minister reflected.

Denouncing demand for provinces

Ghani also lambasted Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for its demand to carve more provinces out of Sindh, saying that the party was "promoting anti-Sindh politics."

Wide-ranging transfers, postings in NHA

He accused MQM-P of "wanting to create insecurity among Urdu-speaking people to achieve its ulterior motives."

The information minister said that the Sindh government strongly condemned the "illogical, irrational and absurd" demand, adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf needed to clarify its position on MQM-P's unfounded demand. Otherwise, "its silence over the issue will create suspicions," he warned.

Ghani said none of the assemblies in the country would ever pass the bill tabled by MQM-P, adding that the Sindh Assembly had a clear stance on the matter and it had passed a resolution against carving more provinces out of Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2019.