Out-of-turn promotions: SP fighting promotions case accuses five colleagues of attack

Son says the same policemen attacked his father last year also.

KARACHI:

Crime Branch Superintendent of Police (SP) Malik Maqsood held five senior police officials responsible for the attack on him in Lines Area on Friday.

The SP had won a case against out-of-turn promotions in the Sindh government at the Supreme Court.  He was on his way to court for another hearing when some men shot him at least four times.

On Saturday, the police recorded the statement of the hospitalised SP, who blamed five officers - SSP Farooq Awan, CID SSP Chaudhry Aslam, SSP Raja Umer Khattab, SP Khurram Waris, and SSP Mazhar Mashwani - for the attack.

SP Maqsood’s son, Kashif, told The Express Tribune that his father had named the officers because they were involved in an attack on him last year as well.

He said that SP Maqsood was out of danger and his condition was stable, but he was still facing threats. “We demand protection at our house,” said Kashif.

“SP Khurram Waris is 20 years junior to my father. How can the police force be effective if juniors are unfairly promoted to positions deserved by experienced officers?”

He requested the chief justice to take notice of the matter and arrest the criminals quickly, besides making sure their promotions are reverted.

SP Maqsood is currently under treatment at the PNS Shifa hospital and the family plans to keep him there because of the strict security provided by the DIG.

His accusations have shocked these police officers, who say that they could not comprehend why they were being named.

SSP Raja Umer Khattab said SP Maqsood was his colleague and senior in the profession. “I don’t know why I and my colleagues are being dragged into this case.”

He said that he had never been involved in extra-judicial killings. “I have no enmity with SP Maqsood.”

SSP Khattab said that there were several petitions filed against them over out-of-turn promotions last year and the petition by SP Maqsood does not affect them.

“I call for a fair investigation into the attack on SP Maqsood.” Meanwhile, Brigade police have yet to register an FIR of the attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2013.