Additional IG of Karachi: With transfer from Islamabad, race for police chief takes a twist

The post has been vacant since October 24.


Salman Siddiqui December 11, 2011

KARACHI:


The race for the next police chief of Karachi has taken an unexpected turn as a new candidate direct from the presidential house in Islamabad has landed in the force, sources have told The Express Tribune.


Akhtar Hussain Gorchani, who until recently was one of the directors of security at the presidency, has been transferred to the Sindh police force, a senior official from Islamabad confirmed.

Gorchani was the DIG of Larkana during Musharraf’s regime.

This development, however, has upset a number of police officers within the department, especially those who are in the race for the slot. Speaking with The Express Tribune privately, they blamed the government and especially Home Minister Manzoor Wassan for what they said was failing to already make the appointment purely on the basis of merit.

However some officers are still keeping their fingers crossed.

The post of additional IG fell vacant when officer Saud Mirza left in the middle of his tenure after differences developed between him and Wassan on October 8 over the issue of the transfer and postings of SHOs within the department. The post has been vacant since October 24. Crime Investigation Department (CID) Additional IG Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh has since then been watching over both posts.

According to the rules, the senior most police officer is given the appointment of such key posts. But one disgruntled officer, who has missed out on many previous chances before, said, “Rules are seldom followed in the police force. What matters most is what group you belong to and which political personality backs you.”

Acting Additional IG Sheikh, when asked whether he was still a contender for the police chief spot, said that the notification to this effect was still awaited and one couldn’t say who would be given the post despite the fact that over a month has passed. “At the moment, I’m just happy with taking care of both key posts within the police force,” he added.

Another key contender is  said to be DIG South Commander Shaukat. However, when contacted, Shaukat denied that he was in the reckoning. “Actually, my recommendation has been given for the post of Additional IG for the traffic police.” This post has been vacant since Mushtaq Shah was transferred to become the next IG of Sindh.

If the rules are followed, then the senior most police officer in the force today is Salman Syed, who is currently the additional IG for the research and development and inspection wing in the force.

Syed claims to be the only officer who has served in all four provinces of the country. The former Pakistan Army major also served in East Pakistan and was also a prisoner taken by India in the aftermath of the 1971 war.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2011.

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