Probe finds ex-DIG of Sukkur responsible for damaging katcha operation

Officer allegedly pressured SSP Ghotki to release an SHO arrested for links with dacoits

An inquiry committee set up by Sindh police chief to probe into the conflict between Sukkur DIG Pir Muhammad Shah and Ghotki SSP Abdul Hafeez Bugti considers the DIG responsible for damaging the ongoing operation against the dacoits in Katcha.

The committee including AIG Imran Yaqoob Minhas, DIG Aamir Farooqui and DIG Tanveer Alam Odhu thoroughly investigated the spat between the two officers over sheltering dacoits.

DIG Sukkur Range Syed Pir Muhammad Shah in a letter to the police chief had blamed his subordinate SSP Ghotki district Hafeezur Rehman Bugti for conniving with bandits.

In response, SSP Bugti, in his media talks, alleged DIG Shah had pressurised him to release Raunti police station SHO Shakoor Lakho who was patronising dacoits for several years and was also involved in the attack on the ex-MPA Shaharyar Khan Shar.

The inquiry committee termed DIG Sukkur's letter as unnecessary and SSP Ghotki's statement in the media as irresponsible behaviour

A member of the inquiry committee said on condition of anonymity that the convoy of former MPA Sheheryar Shar was attacked in Ghotki district on October 14, in which a person named Umar Shar died. It turned out that Umar Shar was a dacoit wanted to the law in several cases robbery and kidnapping for ransom. His presence in ex-MPA's motorcade raised questions about his links.

After the attack, SSP Ghotki conducted an investigation and found evidence of the involvement of a private party, including Raunti police station SHO Shakoor Lakho, who was arrested on October 16 after checking geo-fencing and mobile call data records (CDR).

After the SHO's arrest, DIG Shah wrote a letter to Sindh IG describing SSP Ghotki as the facilitator of the dacoits.

The inquiry committee reviewed the letter and the facts on the ground and declared the letter unnecessary.

The member of the inquiry committee further said that the written statement of former DIG Sukkur Pir Muhammad Shah and former SSP Ghotki Hafeez Bugti has been recorded in which DIG Shah stands by the letter written to IG Sindh but he could not present the evidence to the inquiry committee.

SSP Bugti has submitted the call record, photographs, call record of the arrested SHO Lakho and the data of the private police party to the inquiry committee.

The committee has recommended further investigation against SHO Lakho. Apart from this, the committee confirmed that DIG Shah on behalf of DIG Hyderabad Tariq Dhariju influenced SSP Ghotki to release the arrested SHO Lakho.

The inquiry committee has completed the investigation in this regard as well and such calls have been described as insulting to the officers.

The inquiry committee officer further said that SSP Bugti has informed that tensions with DIG Sukkur, he tried to contact Sindh IG and presented the evidence to the committee.

DIG Shah has given a statement that SSP Ghotki had informed about the meeting with former MPA Shaheryar Shar but he was not informed about the meeting with the notorious dacoit Umar Shar, on which the SSP was ordered not to meet the "police killers", which also needs to be investigated.