SHC questions competence of Sindh IG

Bench says officer failed to recover Dua Zehra, despite repeated warnings

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued very strong remarks against the top cop of the province for failing to recover runaway underage girl Dua Zehra.

SHC has issued a written order on the petition seeking recovery of Dua Zehra and ordered the Establishment Division to see if Sindh IG Kamran Fazal was competent enough to hold a post for protecting lives and properties of the citizens.

A bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Agha Faisal in its written order regarding the recovery of Dua Zehra directed the Establishment Division to consider handing over the charge of IG Sindh to a competent officer.

The court remarked "Establishment Division, give their opinion, is Kamran Fazal eligible for this post or not? We think it is good to leave the matter to the administration."

The court maintained that regarding the efforts to recover Dua Zehra, IG Sindh submitted a report which stands rejected. The court directed the Establishment Division Secretary to conduct an inquiry against IG Sindh.

The bench directed the CIA DIG to produce Dua Zehra on June 3 at 10:30am before the court. The court directed the DIG CIA to ensure the recovery of Dua Zehra by June 3.

Earlier, a bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro heard the petition regarding alleged abduction of Dua Zehra.

Sindh Advocate General Salman Talib-ud-Din stated that Dua Zehra is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. We raided the location but they left the place twenty minutes before the raid.

He maintained that direct instructions should be issued to DIG Hazara since the abductors are being assisted by someone from inside the police department.

Read More: SHC issues notices to authorities in Dua Zehra case

The court remarked that how can we issue a directive to SSP Hazara? Justice Agha Faisal remarked that we were of the view that our jurisdiction extends to the Sindh province only.

Salman Talibud Din stated that IG Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa says Dua Zehra will be recovered in two or three days. On this Justice Agha Faisal remarked, "Your officials also say the same. We are not talking about finding a terrorist. We are asking you to rescue a girl." Advocate General Sindh stated that from the very beginning, Dua went out of our province and she got married.

The court remarked that why the matter goes to IG and DIG of other provinces? This is a matter of level up to DSP and SHO. What would we do if the police say they are in Afghanistan?

Justice Kalhoro remarked, "We are not satisfied with your performance and report. We are not saying you are not working. But the girl has not been recovered and produced in the court."

Later talking to the media at SHC, IG Fazal said, "We will continue to step-up our efforts. Don't ask about investigation process, raids are being conducted in three to four provinces. Pressure or no pressure, it is our duty. We will do what we have to do."

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2022.