Suo motu proceedings: SC wants top cop for Sindh in a week

Centre and province differ over names of six officers.

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) has given the government a week to appoint a permanent IGP for Sindh.

During the Karachi violence suo motu implementation proceedings on Friday, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani cautioned that the court may summon the prime minister and the provincial chief minister to explain the delay.

Jillani was dismayed over the failure of the federal and the provincial governments to reach a consensus over the important issue of the provincial police chief's appoint. He observed that the federal government, under the laws, is bound to appointment an IG in any province, but the same has not been done since the retirement of Sindh police chief Shahid Nadeem Baloch on February 21.

The controversy over the appointment of the top cop on a regular basis has further deepened, as the federal and Sindh governments have a difference of opinion over the names of six officers. Sources told The Express Tribune that the federal government recommended the names of Mushtaq Shah, Mir Zubair Khan and Captain (retd) Liaquat Ali Khan for the post of provincial police officer but the Sindh government differed. A law officer told The Express Tribune that the PPP-led Sindh government has reservations about Mir Zubair, who is currently holding the post of IG Balochistan despite the fact that he is a DIG of grade-21.

About Sukhera, the officer said he has investigated scams, such as NICL and Hajj scandal, and prosecuted PPP leaders directly or indirectly. Similarly, Captain (retd) Khan is considered a member of the Prime Minister’s lobby.

Sindh wants either Crime Investigation Department AIG Iqbal Mehmood, who is currently holding the charge of acting IG, or the former IG Muhammad Fayyaz Leghari and another official.

The officer said that Leghari is the most suitable person for the IG post as he is the only officer of grade-22 available in Sindh and has served at the post twice. Although, he was removed both the times on SC orders after the Sarfaraz Shah murder case and then after the Abbas Town bomb blasts.

This difference of opinion was visible inside the courtroom, as the law officers for the federal and provincial governments kept blaming each other for the delays.

On Friday, when the three-member bench asked deputy attorney general Aslam Butt to produce a notification on the appointment, he said the Sindh government has differed with the three names proposed by the Centre. Meanwhile, Sindh advocate-general Abdul Fateh Malik informed that, under the inter-provincial coordination ordinance 1993, the federal government is bound to appoint an IG with the consultation of the Sindh government. He requested for a week's time.

These excuses further irked the judges. CJ Jillani observed that the law and order situation in Karachi was worsening day by day but those responsible are delaying appointment of a permanent IG. The irate bench allowed some time to AG Malik to seek instructions from the chief minister.

Later, Malik told the judges the CM has not agreed with the three names suggested by the federal government and requested for more time. The chief justice clarified the federal government is bound to appoint an IG and asked them to hurry up. DAG Aslam Butt said the federal government is trying to consult with Sindh before making the appointment.

Justice Amir Hani Muslim wondered if that means the Centre won't appoint any officer if the province does not agree. He told Butt the federal government has the authority to make an appointment. But Malik intervened and said the officers suggested by the federal government cannot establish peace.

The bench ordered Butt to convey the court's order to secretary cabinet division to appoint a permanent IG before March 28. Butt was also directed to submit a compliance report on the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2014.