Karachi loses a good cop

A major reshuffling in the police department has taken place in Sindh and that will surely have implications on the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi. The Sindh government has issued notifications removing four AIGs and six DIGs from their posts. The removals came in the wake of Supreme Court orders to revert all those officials occupying positions that were higher than what their ranks justified. The list does not end here as eight SPs and 70 DSPs were also given fresh postings.

As the police department goes through these changes, the direct consequences will be felt by the Karachi operation which will soon be entering its third, and most important, phase. The new officials will take some time settling into their jobs and getting briefings on the situation. Since they may have a difference of opinion or a different style of working, they may carry forward the operation in a different way, which may reduce its effectiveness. So far, the operation has managed to bring down targeted killings and suicide attacks to some extent, we hope that a change in leadership does not make the progress so far go down the drain.

The last time major shake-ups took place in the Sindh Police was before the start of the targeted operation as the city’s law and order situation had worsened. New and reportedly stricter officers were brought in to wipe out criminals from the city and the government overlooked their rankings in the process. While we commend the Sindh government for finally complying with Supreme Court orders, it may have been better if the correct appointments were made in the first place. During the Karachi law and order suo-motu proceedings, the judges had also noted that to maintain peace in Karachi there must be stability in policies, which means that officers must serve at one post for a long enough time to make effective strategies. The Sindh government should learn its lesson now and make correct appointments to ensure stability in the department.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2014.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.