Imam steps down, Mushtaq Mahar takes charge as Sindh top cop

Long-drawn tussle between Imam, Sindh govt comes to a close

KARACHI: The newly posted Sindh Inspector General of Police, Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar, assumed charge of his office after receiving the permission of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday.

Mahar called on Shah at the CM House, seeking his approval to take charge as the Sindh police chief. Giving his official consent, the chief minister directed Mahar to improve the law and order situation in the province and assured him of the Sindh government's full support in this task.

Shah said that the police had rendered many sacrifices in the line of duty, but incidents of murder, kidnapping and other examples of lawlessness were once again rearing their head in Sindh. "I want you to make the police force more responsive and alert in curbing emerging criminal activities, including street crime," he stated.

Mahar assured the CM that he would pursue the restoration of law and order with full dedication.

Meanwhile, outgoing IGP Dr Kaleem Imam addressed a meeting of senior police officials before relinquishing his charge, thanking Sindh's police officials for their efficient work as a team.

"I am leaving the office today, but the department will continue to operate," he said, stressing that the police should continue to work sincerely, assisting and cooperating with the citizens.

Later, at the Central Police office, Mahar and other police officials saluted the outgoing IGP Dr Kaleem Imam, bidding him farewell.

Imam has been posted as the National Highways and Motorways Police IG. Mahar, who was previously the Railways IG, was selected for his new post from a list that included him, Ghulam Qadir Thebo and Dr Kamran Fazal.

In January, the Sindh government had requested the federal government to immediately recall Imam from his position as Sindh IGP after a power tussle between the province and the police chief.

In a letter to the Establishment Division, the provincial government had cited Imam's "inability to lead the Sindh police, observe federal and provincial laws, control crimes and improve the general law and order situation in the province."

However, the matter dragged on for weeks even after the Sindh government had reportedly obtained Prime Minister Imran Khan's agreement regarding the transfer and sent a list of names for his replacement.

During this time, provincial minister Saeed Ghani accused Imam of colluding with the opposition parties in Sindh and planting baseless news reports regarding Sindh cabinet members in the media. Imam had denied all such allegations, saying a "big conspiracy" was being staged against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2020.