Zulfiqar Mirza saga: Policeman lives in fear after refusing to book Mirza in fake FIR

He believes his life is in danger after he refused to follow the Badin SSP's orders

HYDERABAD: A Badin-based police officer has emerged as the latest victim of the ongoing clash between Zulfiqar Mirza and the Pakistan Peoples Party's provincial government.

The former SHO of Kario Ganwar police station, Khuda Bux Panhwar, claims that besides suffering from official action he now also fears for his life. "The Badin SSP [Khalid Mustafa Korai] ordered me to book Mirza and his supporters in a fake FIR. But I refused to obey such an order," Panhwar said at a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club on Monday.

The SHO claimed that the SSP asked him, on June 5, to book Mirza and six other aides under the charges of attacking the police station, obstruction of duty and vandalism. Following his rebuttal, Korai not only removed him from the post but also reverted him from sub-inspector to assistant sub-inspector. He said he and his family are fearing for their lives. "I am also receiving threats on my life," he claimed.

The SHO appealed to the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court to take notice and order the police to provide him with protection. He also urged the police high-ups to transfer him to any other district in the province where he could continue his duty without becoming a victim of the conflict.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2015.