Out-of-turn promotions: 66 police officials to match ranks with their batch mates

Affected policemen vow to file review petition, insist there are more options left.


Faraz Khan June 12, 2013
The number of officers awaiting this fate is nearly 1,200, but only 66 of them are from the Sindh Police, the remaining are with the Sindh government. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI:


All those policemen who received out-of-turn promotions will now be demoted to the same ranks as their batch mates, following the Supreme Court orders on Wednesday.


Since all such promotions have been declared unlawful, all policemen who were promoted on these terms have been asked to withdraw from their new posts. These include officers holding the rank of deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) to deputy inspector general (DIGs). They have been asked to withdraw the out-of-turn promotions immediately.

On Wednesday, a bench of three judges - headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim - declared the Sindh Police Shoulder Promotions Act, which was enacted through an ordinance, as void. This decision will affect top officials in the police department, including DIG Manzur Mughal who is now retired, FIA Sindh director Abdul Malik, DIG Dost Ali Baloch, SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan, SSP Fayyaz Khan, SSP Raja Umer Khattab, SSP Khurram Waris, SSP Farooq Awan, SP Mazhar Mashwani, SP Irshad Ali Raza Sehar, SP Noorul Haq Rind and SP Waqar Malhan. Most of the SSP rank officers are currently enjoying the posts of the chiefs of the specialised units.



“These officials do not have any option legally since the Supreme Court is the final authority but we all know how the law is abused,” Legal AIG Ali Sher Jakhrani told The Express Tribune. “Now these cases will be reviewed individually, and the officers will be given the same ranks as their batch mates.”

The number of officers awaiting this fate is nearly 1,200, but only 66 of them are from the Sindh Police, the remaining are with the Sindh government. Three DIGs, 17 SPs or SSPs were among the reverted police officers, while the remaining ones are of DSP-rank. The petition not only challenged out-of-turn promotions, but it also pointed out cases of absorptions, deputations and reemployments.

After an order in 2010, nearly 5,273 police inspectors were demoted to their original ranks as these promotions were declared unconstitutional and un-Islamic. However, the 66 officers of DSP to DIG ranks remained safe. “Over 5,000 inspectors were sacrificed, but those above the DSP rank were not affected,” explained Jakhrani. “These 66 officers came up with nearly six different bills to secure their promotions but all those bills have ended.”

According to senior police officials, the court gave these officers an option to just go down one rank but they did not avail it then. “They kept on introducing one bill after another but to no avail,” said an officer, pointing out that some of these officers were given promotions for merely arresting men who had an ‘intention’ of robbing someone.

Reactions

Those officers who did not receive such promotions are happy with the apex court decision. “Most of these officers are those who are junior to me, yet they are my seniors now,” complained an inspector, who joined the police force in the 90s. “Some are getting promoted for catching a robber, while others are getting bumped up for solving a fraud case,” he pointed out. “There is no gallantry involved in these cases, these are routine activities for policemen.”



On the other hand, those officials whose promotions were cancelled have decided to file a review petition in the apex court. “Those who wanted the Supreme Court to declare these promotions unlawful will say that there is no option left,” said Special Investigation Unit chief SSP Farooq Awan. “The review is ours and no one can stop us from filing it. It has been 34 years since I started serving, I deserve to be at this senior post.”

SSP Chaudhry Aslam also vowed to approach the court and is hopeful that he would continue to enjoy his current post. “There are several options left,” he said. “Our houses have been attacked and our families have been forced to flee the country. Are we waiting for the terrorists to capture everything?”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

Baffled | 10 years ago | Reply

Just look at the names all imported labels .90% of them are from outside Karachi just here to make some quick bucks and to retire rich in their hometowns .

And you people still pondering and wondering why the police is unable to control the law and orders of Karachi .Rocket science or E=mc square ?

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