Sindh IG reprimanded for cases against Swati

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court on Monday reprimanded the Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon for registering more than one FIR against PTI leader Azam Swati in the same case, restraining the police from arresting the senator in more cases.

Swati was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency cybercrime wing on November 27 for using derogatory language against the military on social media website Twitter. Subsequently, cases were registered against the PTI leader in Balochistan and Sindh. However, the Balochistan High Court quashed all the cases while the Sindh police took him into custody from Quetta last week.

A division bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, heard Swati’s petition regarding the cases registered against him.

At the onset of the proceedings, the court remarked that the Sindh IG should come to the rostrum.

“You should explain how the law is being used. Our question is very simple. How there is more than one FIR of an incident?” Justice KK Agha inquired.

IG Sindh said, “Four hundred cases are registered daily.”

The court remarked that an FIR of an incident was being registered in every city, every town, and every province. “How is this happening?” Justice KK Agha inquired. “What are you doing?”

IG Memon replied, “Give me time, I will satisfy the court.”

The court remarked, “We are giving you time till Tuesday (today).”

The court warned the IG, reprimanding him that if he was unable to satisfy the court, “action will be taken against you”.

Justice KK Agha remarked, “Your performance is very disappointing.

Your research is very disappointing. Your own policemen are being killed but the investigation is not transparent. Gentleman, you are the Sindh IG.”

The Sindh IG replied that trust him, “we are working”.

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Justice KK Agha remarked, “We are not trusting you.”

The IG said, “These remarks are very painful for me. If you don't trust me, what can I say? I am hurt by the court's remarks.”

Justice KK Agha remarked, “You should resign if you are not interested in your job.”

The Sindh IG replied, “I am the police chief of the entire province. Why should I resign, I was hurt today. I apologise to the bench.”

The Sindh IG said that he had the entire police force under him.

The court remarked that then explain why street crimes were happening.

Sindh advocate general and prosecutor general came to the IG’s rescue.

The prosecutor general and additional advocate general apologised on the IG’s behalf.

The IG said, “I am trying my best to end crime.”

Justice KK Agha remarked, “If you are inconvenienced by us, we apologise, but we are doing our job.

“Make us understand how multiple FIRs are being filed for the same incident.

“We're not lecturing you, just telling what's going on and trying to make you realise what's going wrong.”

Talking about the investigation, the bench said, there was a very poor investigation record in many cases.

The court ordered the Sindh IG to translate every FIR in English.

The court remarked that every FIR-filing police officer should be called here.

“Call all concerned SSPs here. Give full explanation on Tuesday (today), how these FIRs are being registered.”

The court restrained the Sindh police from arresting Swati in further cases.

The court remarked, “If Swati is arrested, he should be taken to Islamabad.

“If Azam Swati is to be kept in custody, then he should be kept in Islamabad.”

The court directed the Sindh IG to submit the records of all the FIRs, ordering him to review the Islamabad FIR as well.

The court remarked, “There is a difference between FIRs in Sindh and the ones in Islamabad?”

The court ordered the prosecutor general and the Sindh IG to review the cases and submit a report.

The court adjourned the hearing till December 15.