Law and order case: Gambler controls Karachi police postings, SC told

Two officers testify Wasim Beater carries a lot of clout with top brass of Sindh police.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court was informed on Monday that the Karachi police was being controlled and run by a gambler called Wasim Beater — all postings and promotions of police officers in the metropolis were apparently made on his recommendations.

The revelations were made during the hearing of a petition filed by Senator Haji Adeel asking for a review of the progress on the judgment of the Karachi law and order case passed by the apex court in October 2011.

While Sindh Police Inspector General (IG) Fayyaz Laghari, Chief Secretary Raja Mohammad Abbas and Additional Chief Secretary Wasim Ahmed pleaded ignorance about the matter, DIG Hyderabad Sannaullah Abbasi and Sindh Additional IG Bashir Memon admitted before the bench, in the presence of their seniors, that Beater, a junior police officer, did in fact run a ‘gambling den’ in Karachi and possessed “great influence in the police department”.

The three-member bench expressed its dissatisfaction over non-implementation of the judgment even after more than a year and directed Sindh Advocate General Fateh Malik to present a comprehensive report with detailed progress against each point of the judgment in the next hearing.

The bench warned that contempt of court proceedings could be launched against the authorities concerned if they fail to provide the details as to what satisfactory steps have been taken to improve law and order in the country’s largest city.

During the course of the hearing, Syed Mehmood Naqvi, a resident of Karachi, who also filed a civil miscellaneous application (CMA) in the court, also alleged that Beater was a constable and was promoted to an inspector’s post with the blessing of IG Laghari and Additional Chief Secretary Ahmed. He added that the gambler seems to have become an “adopted” brother of both these senior officers.

“Every police official in the city is being transferred and posted on his recommendation. He runs a ‘gambling den’ and smuggles Iranian petrol and diesel. He provides millions of rupees to senior officers,” Naqvi alleged.

Upon this, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry inquired from the chief secretary, IG and additional chief secretary regarding Beater but the officials expressed ignorance about any such person in the department.

“I know this criminal person. He has a gambling den in Karachi and I had taken action against him when I was SSP Saddar,” said DIG Hyderabad Abbasi in the presence of his seniors despite their refusal to accept the allegations. “Action should be taken against this criminal person who is a very powerful man,” he stated.



Additional IG Memon said, “I should tell the truth before my seniors that Wasim Beater is present among the ranks of the Karachi police. I also confirm that he is a very influential person”.

In the wake of these conflicting statements, an irked chief justice hit back at the IG and additional chief secretary. “Why are you concealing the actual situation from the court and misleading it?

“We appreciate the courage of Bashir Memon and Sannaullah Abbasi for telling the truth in front of their seniors. This suggests why the judgment is not being implemented and why Karachi’s law and order is not improving.

“If you don’t implement the judgment, we will proceed with contempt of court against you,” warned the chief Justice.

Addressing the IG, the chief justice stated, “How can you sleep in Karachi? You know how many people were killed yesterday alone? Innocent people are killed, but you are not taking any steps.

“Have you taken any step to depoliticise police as per the court’s judgment and to follow merit? Did you ever write to us after the judgment to abolish the militant wings of political parties?” asked a stern chief justice.

Towards the end of the proceedings, Justice Azmat Saeed stated, “Pakistan is our country and Karachi is its face and economic hub. Please save it.”, he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2013.