Delayed justice?: Over 1,200 policemen suspended

In a face-saving move, Sindh IG issues suspension orders of all policemen under trial.

SUKKUR/ KARACHI:

Not one to upset the judges second day in a row, Sindh IG Fayyaz Leghari issued suspension orders of 1,281 policemen who have been under trial but were still holding their posts.

This is the first time in the history of the police department that suspensions on such a large scale have taken place. The suspended policemen do not only belong to Karachi, but also include the IGP’s favourites, Hyderabad SSP Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi and Jamshoro SSP Farrukh Bashir, who were not on the list he filed in court a day earlier.

Shaheed Benazirabad SSP Khalid Mustafa and five SPs posted across rural Sindh, seven DSPs, 42 inspectors, 109 sub-inspectors and 101 assistant sub-inspectors, 111 head constables and 505 constables were also among those who received suspension orders.

Confirming the orders, AIG for legal Ali Sher Jakhrani told The Express Tribune that 400 policemen were suspended on February 8, following a report submitted by the Sindh High Court inspection team at the Supreme Court’s registry in Karachi. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court was informed of 881 more suspensions. These include 157 suspensions in Karachi, 345 in Hyderabad, 21 in Mirpurkhas, 239 in Sukkur and 118 in Larkana.

“We are reviewing all the cases and the policemen who have been charged will remain suspended,” the AIG explained. “But the suspension orders of policemen involved in cases where charges are not framed will be reviewed, and taken back.” The department is planning on submitting a detailed report to the court before the next session, he added.

After the suspension, those officers who are at the ranks of SSPs, SPs and DSPs will report to the Central Police Office in Karachi while lower ranking officers have been asked to report to their zonal DIGs. These policemen will receive their full salaries until they are found guilty or their suspension orders are withdrawn.



Before General Ziaul Haq’s rule, policemen were only entitled to half their salaries during suspension. Later, the Federal Shariat Court changed the rules. “These policemen are working for their salaries until now, when they will just sit at home and get paid,” Finance DIG Dost Ali Baloch told The Express Tribune. “I feel like God answered their prayers - they are getting a paid vacation.”

In a department already suffering from a dwindling police force, these suspensions, and more that are likely in the coming days, will have an impact on the law enforcers’ performance. DIG Baloch assured, however, that once the charges are confirmed, more policemen will be hired to replace the suspended ones.

Interestingly, a policeman who was suspended on Thursday appeared very calm. “Nothing is going to happen, this [suspension] will go on for some time and then everything will settle down” he told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “It doesn’t matter if a policeman is in uniform or not. A policeman is a policeman and those who are investigating the cases are also one of us.”

Suspensions in Sukkur

Sukkur DIG also suspended 135 police officials who are currently facing trial. These include three DSPs, 12 inspectors, 16 sub-inspectors, 17 assistant sub-inspectors and 67 police constables.

According to the order, the suspended officials will draw their pays and allowances according to the rules. The officials will attend the daily roll call in their respective police headquarters and will not leave the headquarters without prior permission of a competent authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.