Karachi law and order: IGP invokes SC wrath over misleading list
Asks why errant policemen haven’t been suspended.
File photo of Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Two names could cost Sindh’s police chief his entire career.
Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Leghari failed to put Hyderabad SSP Pir Jan Sarhandi and Jamshoro SSP Farrukh Bashir on his list of officers who were facing trial. The Supreme Court had taken up the problem of police officers who are still working even though they are themselves booked in criminal cases.
“There is a complete failure in the department, and it seems that criminals are being protected,” observed Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. He is heading the bench with Justices Khilji Arif Hussain, Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Gulzar Ahmed and Muhammad Athar Saeed that is hearing how far the authorities have followed the SC’s orders to reduce violence in Karachi. The Karachi violence suo motu case was opened in 2011, after one of the city’s bloodiest summers.
During the hearing Tuesday, a lawyer unexpectedly came to the rostrum and disclosed that two high-ranking officers – SSP Hyderabad Pir Jan Sarhandi and Jamshoro SSP Farrukh Bashir – were still in the field even though their names were in murder trials in court.
IGP Leghari responded that they were not charged with murder but illegal detention. However, the damage was done. His report to the court had not given their names.
“We will charge you with contempt of court and we will take action against you,” an irritated Justice Jamali told him. “A person who has committed murder should be dealt with the law, irrespective of who he is.”
Justice Jamali noted that the IGP had concealed crucial facts to mislead the court instead of coming up with the truth by naming all officials wanted for crimes.
“Issue a show-cause notice to the IGP as to why contempt proceedings shall not be initiated against him for the act of concealment of facts and creating obstruction in the dispensation of justice,” ordered Justice Jamali before adjourning the case. The IGP has to respond by today.
The judges had asked what action had been taken against as many as 400 policemen, who were still working despite their involvement in heinous offences. Leghari’s lawyer Shah Khawar conceded that most of them were still active in service.
City police chief Iqbal Mehmood added that they were removed from the field and sent to Civil Lines. The department had started disciplinary action against them and they had been asked to explain themselves. But this means they have not been suspended as the Supreme Court had expected.
Justice Jamali asked how could a fair trial be ensured if these policemen were still in uniform. “This is a weakness of your department.” To a query, IGP Leghari replied that some of the criminal cases against these policemen were registered as long as nine years ago. “Then what action did your department take in the nine years?” questioned Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.
“Why have some of the officials nominated in murder cases been posted as Station House Officers in police stations in the city?” he was asked.
The IGP assured the court that they would fix the problem within one month.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2013.
Two names could cost Sindh’s police chief his entire career.
Inspector General of Police Fayyaz Leghari failed to put Hyderabad SSP Pir Jan Sarhandi and Jamshoro SSP Farrukh Bashir on his list of officers who were facing trial. The Supreme Court had taken up the problem of police officers who are still working even though they are themselves booked in criminal cases.
“There is a complete failure in the department, and it seems that criminals are being protected,” observed Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. He is heading the bench with Justices Khilji Arif Hussain, Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Gulzar Ahmed and Muhammad Athar Saeed that is hearing how far the authorities have followed the SC’s orders to reduce violence in Karachi. The Karachi violence suo motu case was opened in 2011, after one of the city’s bloodiest summers.
During the hearing Tuesday, a lawyer unexpectedly came to the rostrum and disclosed that two high-ranking officers – SSP Hyderabad Pir Jan Sarhandi and Jamshoro SSP Farrukh Bashir – were still in the field even though their names were in murder trials in court.
IGP Leghari responded that they were not charged with murder but illegal detention. However, the damage was done. His report to the court had not given their names.
“We will charge you with contempt of court and we will take action against you,” an irritated Justice Jamali told him. “A person who has committed murder should be dealt with the law, irrespective of who he is.”
Justice Jamali noted that the IGP had concealed crucial facts to mislead the court instead of coming up with the truth by naming all officials wanted for crimes.
“Issue a show-cause notice to the IGP as to why contempt proceedings shall not be initiated against him for the act of concealment of facts and creating obstruction in the dispensation of justice,” ordered Justice Jamali before adjourning the case. The IGP has to respond by today.
The judges had asked what action had been taken against as many as 400 policemen, who were still working despite their involvement in heinous offences. Leghari’s lawyer Shah Khawar conceded that most of them were still active in service.
City police chief Iqbal Mehmood added that they were removed from the field and sent to Civil Lines. The department had started disciplinary action against them and they had been asked to explain themselves. But this means they have not been suspended as the Supreme Court had expected.
Justice Jamali asked how could a fair trial be ensured if these policemen were still in uniform. “This is a weakness of your department.” To a query, IGP Leghari replied that some of the criminal cases against these policemen were registered as long as nine years ago. “Then what action did your department take in the nine years?” questioned Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.
“Why have some of the officials nominated in murder cases been posted as Station House Officers in police stations in the city?” he was asked.
The IGP assured the court that they would fix the problem within one month.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2013.