As Hyderabad Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Dr Jameel Ahmed continues to occupy the Hyderabad Circuit House's rooms, the district administration has sought Sindh chief secretary's intervention to have the rooms vacated.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Fuad Ghaffar Soomro has written a letter to Hyderabad Commissioner Muhammad Abbass Baloch, requesting him to take up the matter with the Sindh IGP through the chief secretary. A question has also been raised as to why Ahmed is not residing at the police officers residences on Hussainabad Road.
It has been requested that Ahmed should be asked to pay the rooms' charges, which have accumulated to Rs265,000 from August 28, 2020 till March 31, 2021.
"It is, therefore, requested that the matter may kindly be moved to the inspector general of police, Sindh, for vacation of the rooms and payment of the outstanding dues against these rooms if deemed appropriate," reads the letter.
Controversial stay
The controversy surfaced last week, when staff of the circuit house resorted to protests, accusing two sons of the AIGP of maltreatment.
The Sindh Provincial Buildings United Union (CBA) went on to demand the registration of an FIR against the AIGP's sons, namely Ali and Rafay, warning to boycott work in all the circuit houses in the province. But no FIR has been lodged thus far as some political influential persons and some police officials are reportedly trying to mediate between the two sides.
The AIGP was unofficially allotted two rooms, reserved for very very important persons (VVIPs) in the facility's south wing on August 28, 2020, on verbal directions given by the commissioner.
A third room was allotted - again on the verbal order of Baloch - on December 24, 2020. "The rent of the rooms is outstanding against the AIGP Hyderabad since the reservation," reads the letter. The rooms were initially allotted for only one week.
The facility, located near the regional bureaucracy's headquarters, Shahbaz Building, on Thandi Sarak Road, provides temporary lodging to the government officers who do not have personal or official residences in Hyderabad.
The VVIPs and VIPs are also accommodated during their visits. "... during the visits of the VVIPs and VIPs at Hyderabad the district administration faces acute shortage of rooms in the circuit house as three rooms are under occupation of AIGP Hyderabad," reads the letter.
Hyderabad Assistant Commissioner Qandeel Fatima Memon, who is in charge of the circuit house, in her letter to the DC on April 1 sought guidance for the recovery of Rs265,000 dues from the AIGP. "Considering that this is a loss to the exchequer and being supervisor of the circuit house, this letter is being written to seek your guidance in this matter."
She also apprised that the permanent occupancy of the three rooms has created a shortage of rooms and that a number of requests of government officers for temporary stay in the facility are being denied. According to her, the two VVIP rooms were allotted to Ahmed before she was posted as the assistant commissioner for Hyderabad taluka.
Police bungalows
The DC informed the commissioner that former police officers used to reside in the police residences situated on Hussainabad road in Hyderabad. "The status of these bungalows should be ascertained from IGP office as why these premises are not being used by the present incumbent [additional IGP Hyderabad]."
According to the DC, the bungalows in question are in possession of the police officers who have been transferred from Hyderabad long ago. A police source informed that these annexes have been given to a SSP, a female ASP and a staff officer of the AIGP.
AIGP Ahmed could not be reached for his version.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2021.
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