PTI, PPP at loggerheads over move to remove Sindh police chief

PM Imran directs Governor Ismail to consult all stakeholders after Sindh cabinet gives nod to replace IGP Kaleem Imam

KARACHI: The post of Sindh inspector general of police (IGP) has once again become the bone of contention between the ruling parties in Sindh and at the Centre – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – after the provincial cabinet gave a green signal to replace the incumbent police chief on Wednesday.

The Sindh cabinet, in a meeting held on the province’s overall law and order situation earlier in the day, expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of IGP Kaleem Imam.

Names of Ghulam Qadir Thebo, Mushtaq Mehar and Dr Jameel came under consideration as Imam’s replacement during the meeting. Majority of the cabinet members chose Thebo as their first choice, but left the final decision on the issue to the Sindh chief minister.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the provincial government would forward all three names to the federal government. Reasons behind the decision would also be explained in the summary, they added.

The leadership of PTI’s Sindh chapter reacted strongly to the development, saying they would not allow the PPP government to make the move at any cost. They also decided to take the matter to the court.

“Names for Sindh IGPs are recommended by the Centre and not by the provincial government,” PTI leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi said in a statement. “The PPP government wants to use Sindh Police against its political opponents … we won’t allow this to happen and approach all possible fora to stop the change,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has also taken notice of the development. He, in a telephonic conversation with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, tasked the latter to consult all stakeholders on the matter.

According to Sindh Police Order 2002, an IGP is stationed for a term of three years in the province and written recommendations of the Public Safety Commission are mandatory to replace the provincial police chief.

However, federal and provincial governments, through bilateral consultations, can replace the Sindh IGP before the expiry of the three-year term.