‘Sindh suffered immense damage in 15 years’

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has rejected the bail application of the accused in a rape case that recently happened within the jurisdiction of the Aram police station.

IG Sindh Police Riffat Mukhtar appeared before the SHC bench on the court's orders. Justice Amjad Ali Sahito remarked, "IG sir, the level of destruction that has occurred in Sindh over the last 15 years is unprecedented. It is unclear where we will be four to six months from now."

The court advised the IG to prioritise the welfare of the people of Sindh during his tenure.

Justice Sahito expressed concerns about the investigation process, saying, "The investigation officer (IO) is given resources with one hand and sees them taken away with the other."

"In rape cases, investigations and identification parades are often neglected. IOs claim they lack funds. Instead of allocating funds to districts, why not provide them directly to the police stations? Accountability can be enforced at the station level if this approach is taken," the judge further remarked. "The people of Sindh are watching."

IG Mukhtar responded, saying, "In two to four months, we will witness significant changes in Sindh. We have implemented a monitoring mechanism within the police force, and I will personally oversee the entire province, including fund management."

Justice Sahito inquired about the reason for the accused's arrest in this case. The IO replied that the accused's elder brother was involved in robberies, leading to the accused's arrest. Justice Sahito remarked, "Sindh has suffered immense damage over the last 15 years. Cities like Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot, Larkana, and others are in dire straits. Many government employees, including police officers, teachers, and doctors, leave the country on government employee visas. This has become the norm in the province."

He further remarked: "In Karachi, investigations are still somewhat functional, with even betel-nut sellers contributing to police. However, in places like Shikarpur, Kandhkot, and Kashmore, such contributions are nonexistent. These 15 years have been highly destructive. Even murder cases are not properly investigated in Sindh. How can we expect effective investigations into cases of goat and buffalo thefts and robberies?

"We keep accumulating files against the accused, but evidence is scarce. We grow weary of searching, and no evidence is presented in court against the accused. Once they are released, we re-arrest them, only for the court to release them again. We are part of the same society and want to punish the guilty, but without evidence, it's challenging to keep the accused in jail."

IG Mukhtar said, "I've been in Sindh for 20 days, and I've gained valuable insights."

Justice Sahito asked him to start improving the investigation system from there.

The IG stated, "Special allowances have been designated for investigation officers, which will be added to their salaries. This will put an end to the practice of cheques being given with one hand and taken back with the other."

Justice Sahito expressed confidence in the IG's intentions but raised concerns about district accounts officers taking money from IOs. He suggested that a system be established to monitor IOs, and said, "Sindh's fortunes will change if investigation funds are directly allocated to the police stations. Ensuring proper identification parades for the accused could also lead to improvements."

The police chief assured that he would address the shortcomings in the investigation process.

In the end, the court rejected the bail application of the accused, Farhad, in the rape case, stating that the available evidence did not justify granting bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2023.