At SPSC meeting, Dr Kaleem Imam's transfer remains the elephant in the room

Syed Murad Ali Shah reportedly prevents PPP members from raising arguments with Sindh IGP

KARACHI: Against the backdrop of a drawn-out tussle over the transfer of the provincial top cop, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Kaleem Imam attended a meeting of the Sindh Public Safety Commission (SPSC) on Saturday. However, the elephant in the room - Imam's transfer - was not discussed.

During the meeting, held to oversee the operations of the provincial police force and chaired by Shah in his capacity as home minister, the decision was made to present the Annual Policing Plan to the Sindh cabinet. Shah also ordered the proper redressal of public complaints received against the police.

Other items on the agenda were the establishment of district public safety commissions and the matter of repatriating the Sindh police chief. However, the latter was withdrawn by civil society activist Karamat Ali, who had also proposed its inclusion.

"There was a tussle between the IGP and the Sindh government, so I had proposed that the meeting be briefed about Imam's repatriation. Now I have withdrawn it because the Sindh government has followed the rules and sent names [for his replacement] to the federal government," explained Ali while talking to the media.

"Why should I create controversy in the meeting when the rules are being followed and the provincial and federal governments are working on it?" he added.

Sources privy to the matter told The Express Tribune that members of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had planned to raise arguments with Imam during the meeting. However, the chief minister had admonished them, telling them to focus on the agenda of the meeting instead of creating a fuss.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Grand Democratic Alliance MPA Hasnain Mirza, who is part of the SPSC, said that the confusion over the transfer could affect the law and order situation in the city. "The Sindh government and the Centre should make a decision soon."

'Stay out of police affairs'

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Muhammad Ali Aziz, another SPSC member, wrote a letter to the commission, maintaining that it should avoid putting undue pressure on police officials.

He stated in the letter that independent, transparent policing, free of political interference, should be the target.

"The SPSC has sought reports from the police over administrative affairs… [but] it is not the SPSC's job to interfere in the police's official and daily affairs," he wrote, adding that they should limit themselves to monitoring the strategic aspects of policing and leave the administration to the IGP.

Aziz suggested that the commission should seek quarterly reports to assess fixed targets and allow the police to create an efficient system of self-accountability by letting the police chief look into complaints.

Policing Plan

During the meeting, Imam presented a policing plan that incorporated suggestions previously made by commission members.

Commenting that the Sindh cabinet was authorised to approve the proposed plan, Shah directed the SPSC secretary to forward it for discussion in the next cabinet meeting through the home secretary.

While a commission member asked Imam to provide details of his travel outside the city, Shah intervened, stating that they did not have the authority to question the police chief's visits.

The IGP also gave a briefing about 23 police officers against whom inquiries or disciplinary actions were recommended in 2019. In a written report, he said that statements about their alleged misconduct had been submitted to the chief secretary.

At this, Shah told the chief secretary to file a report detailing the action taken against the named officers.

Furthermore, a number of complaints filed by citizens and their resolutions were also discussed in the meeting.

Besides this, the chief minister approved a scheme to renovate the SPSC office in the barracks, allowing members to carry out their work there.

The commission constituted a five-member committee to review SPSC rules and regulations, powers and implementation as well. The committee is to submit a report on the matter within 30 days.

As the meeting drew to an end, it was pointed out that Karachi's position in the International Crime Index had improved from sixth to 97th. This was attributed to "the commitment of the government, police and the people of Karachi, who extended their full support and cooperation.