Sindh

IG pulls up DIGs, SSPs for failure to catch proclaimed offenders

Shows anger at Larkana police for nabbing only 13 out of 23,000 fugitives

TAHA UBAIDI October 18, 2023

FBI, US Marshals Service offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the fugitive trio. FILE PHOTO

KARACHI:

The Sindh police chief went ballistic in a meeting with district and zonal police heads blaming them for catching only small fry like gutka and mawa sellers while robbers and dacoits roam free.

Sources in the Central Police Office (CPO) said that IG Riffat Mukhtar Raja pulled up the DIGs and SSPs for the failure to arrest more than 50,000 proclaimed offenders and absconders across the province.

"I know who is taking bribes from criminals, you cannot hide in the department," sources quoted IG Mukhtar as saying. All you people do is just catching small drug peddlers and gutka and mawa dealers, the top cop of Sindh said admonishing the officers. Get your act together now, or some of you will go home, he warned the officers.

With the performance report on the desk, IG Mukhtar fumed that the Sindh police have not arrested even one per cent of the people named on the wanted list.

Also read: Four more fugitives arrested from abroad

Surprisingly, the highest number of the most wanted fugitives were holed up in the Pakistan Peoples Party stronghold, Larkana, particularly, the Kashmore district. However, the Larkana zone police could arrest only 13 out 23,000 wanted criminals present in their jurisdiction.

Another 'stellar' performance was shown by Karachi South zone police for arresting only seven out of 7,000 fugitives present in its jurisdiction.

Sources said that IG Raja looked at Karachi police chief AIG Khadim Hussain Rind and asked, do you think police are working and the AIG replied, no they are not.

"Don't complain if I remove anyone from the positions, this performance will not be tolerated in any case," CPO sources said.

IG Raja has called for the performance report of the officers of Larkana, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Karachi ranges and has also started considering the removal of some SSPs from their posts.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2023.