CM sacks SSP for baton charge on MQM-P rally

Information minister says decision based on findings of Home Dept report

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered to immediately remove from his post the Senior Superintendent of Police posted in South Zone of Karachi, Zubair Shaikh, on the basis of the recommendations contained in the report of the committee, which probed into the police action launched to tackle rally of Opposition Muttahida Quami Movement outside the CM House on January 26.

A statement issued on Friday quoted Sindh Information and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani as saying that the Sindh government's Home Secretary had submitted the findings of the probe committee to the CM.

The Sindh Information Minister said that the CM had also ordered the officials concerned to launch disciplinary proceedings against the South Zone SSP in Karachi as per the recommendations of the probe committee.

He said that the CM had also asked the officials concerned to seek an explanation from the Deputy Inspector General in South Zone of Karachi, Sharjeel Kharral, in accordance with the recommendations contained in the probe report.

Saeed Ghani said that orders had also been issued for suspension from service of the police constable for his involvement in manhandling of MPA of MQM, Sadqat Hussain, as the action was taken to disperse the protest rally. Ghani said the Opposition legislator from MQM duly identified the erring police personnel.

The Sindh Information Minister recalled that the CM soon after the police action against the MQM's rally had ordered the Sindh government's Home Secretary to investigate the violent incident. The CM asked the Home Secretary to probe the incident in view of the violent action by the police to disperse the rally.

The report acknowledged that police resorted to baton-charge against the protestors outside the CM House resulting in injuries to the lawmaker of MQM.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2022.