PM Imran agrees to transfer Sindh IGP Imam

Imran Khan discusses Sindh’s issues with CM, gives assurances of speedy resolution

KARACHI: After days of controversy over the appointment of the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Centre and the Sindh government have agreed to transfer the incumbent IGP, Dr Kaleem Imam, and appoint another police chief to replace him.

The decision was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the Governor House in Karachi on Monday. During the meeting, which was also attended by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, it was also agreed to appoint the new police chief from the panel of five names sent by the Sindh government to the Establishment Division last week.

The list of senior police officials being considered for the coveted post includes Kamran Fazal, Mushtaq Mahar, Inam Ghani, Ghulam Qadir Thebo and Sanaullah Abbasi.

"The confrontation between the political government and police chief in any province will not yield good results, therefore we should consider whatever the Sindh government has recommended," official sources quoted the prime minister as saying, adding that the issue of the appointment of the new police chief would be resolved soon.

"The chief minister had already taken the PM into confidence, but the local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership created problems by dragging the issue into the media and the courts," sources told The Express Tribune.

PM Khan also summoned Imam to the Governor House to listen to his grievances during the visit to the city, but the police chief was later reportedly asked to be prepared for his transfer as it was the prerogative of the Sindh government.

Resolving Sindh's problems

During the meeting between Shah and Khan, a number of concerns facing the Sindh government were discussed. The premier assured Shah that these matters would all be resolved on a priority basis.

Discussing development schemes with the PM during their meeting, the chief minister said that some important development projects for Sindh were languishing with the Planning and Development Ministry. He added that the on-going federal government projects in Karachi were also moving sluggishly.

At this, the prime minister assured him that he would direct Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar to expedite processing of the Sindh government's schemes. As far as the federal government's plans in the provincial capital were concerned, Khan said that they would be completed as soon as possible.

Another issue raised during the meeting was the swarm of locusts that have wreaked havoc for standing crops in the country, and particularly in Sindh. "It is high time to destroy them in the desert areas, where they have settled for breeding," said Shah, adding that they would begin breeding when the area received rain. He proposed the hiring of aircraft from China and the United Arab Emirates so that timely action could be taken.

The PM responded that he would direct the Plant Protection Department to take the necessary measures and begin aerial spraying in the desert areas.

Combatting disease

Meanwhile, Khan expressed concern about the rising number of polio cases.

"The virus is not only crippling our children but it will isolate Pakistan in the international community," maintained Shah. "We in Sindh have taken drastic measures to try to control it, but due to frequent travel of people to and from Afghanistan, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it emerges again and again."

He suggested to the prime minister that the strategy being used to control the spread of polio should be changed. In response, Khan said that he would call a meeting of the National Polio Eradication Task Force, inviting all the stakeholders to adapt and strengthen the strategy.

Regarding the emergence of the deadly coronavirus in China, the chief minister pointed out that a suspicious case had been detected in Multan. "It [the case in Multan] might not be a case of coronavirus, but a large number of Chinese citizens are working in Pakistan," he mentioned. "In Sindh, they are engaged in Thar and Karachi. A travel advisory for them and the people of Pakistan should be issued," he suggested.

Giving orders for the National Institute of Health in Islamabad to develop a diagnostic system for the coronavirus, PM Khan directed all the provinces to follow the advice and precautionary measures set out by the World Health Organisation. Chinese citizens working in Pakistan should also be guided accordingly, he added.

Another matter brought up was the issue of the wheat shortage, about which the prime minister said he would call a meeting soon. Shah explained that the new wheat crop would be harvested in March, which meant that the government must make arrangements to meet the national requirements for about a month and a half.

Earlier, the chief minister, along with Ismail, had received Prime Minister Khan as he arrived at Faisal Base. This was the first time this had happened; previously, the governor was the one receiving the PM during his visits to Sindh. Defending his position, Shah had previously argued that as he was not earlier informed by Khan's office, he had opted not to receive him.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2020.