Sindh energy minister demands Shikarpur SSP’s suspension

Terms the letter written by SSP to Sindh IGP ‘baseless and libelous’

KARACHI: In the wake of Shikarpur SSP Dr Rizwan Ahmed Khan's letter to Sindh police chief Kaleem Imam, accusing Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh of threatening him, his family and subordinates, the minister has demanded Khan's suspension.

He termed the letter "baseless and libelous," accusing the SSP of conspiring against the Sindh government. The minister claimed the SSP had perpetrated "murders of innocent citizens" in his constituency, saying that the letter was written to "exact revenge from people in his constituency." He added that the enraged public now demanded Khan's termination.

Taking notice of the SSP's offences, said Shaikh, the CM had ordered the formation of an inquiry committee to look into the cases. The minister said it would only be fair to suspend the SSP until the committee revealed its findings, so that Khan was prevented from pressuring or threatening the witnesses appearing before the committee, he said.

Shaikh accused the SSP of slandering the Sindh government, claiming that he was backed by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member. "This proves that the SSP is involved in hatching a conspiracy against the provincial government," the energy minister said, further appealing to the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of Khan's alleged extra-judicial killings.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2020.