Too honest to work: Politics trumps policing yet again

Last week, the Sindh government sent four senior police officials packing; here is why

KARACHI:

The military leadership has reportedly expressed concerns over the provincial government's decision to transfer four 'competent' police officers to the establishment division in Islamabad, believing that it may jeopardise the on-going operation against criminals in Sindh.

Earlier, the Sindh government had directed AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) AIG Sanaullah Abbasi, DIG Sultan Khawaja and former district South SSP Tariq Dharejo to report to Islamabad.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that the military leadership has expressed reservations over the sudden decision and asked the provincial government to reconsider the move. "These officers have been transferred in violation of the apex committee's decision to take all the committee members into confidence before the transfer and posting of senior officers engaged in counter-terrorism efforts," said an official in the Sindh government, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "The military has conveyed its reservations to Sindh government, who are likely to revert their decision," he added.

Read: Counter-terrorism department undergoes name changes



"Soon after it came into power in 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had demanded the services of these officers and posted them on key positions, given their good reputation," said an additional chief secretary of the Sindh government. "Not just the chief minister, the whole PPP leadership always lauded the services of these officers. The sudden decision has, however, taken everyone by surprise."

According to officials, the unexpected decision came after these officers resisted their superiors' orders on a number of occasions by upholding their principles and not succumbing to the pressure of influential people or even their bosses sitting in the government.  "The dispute between Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali and AIG Thebo prompted the former to register a number of complaints against Thebo," said a senior police official. "The posting of SHOs, police budget and modus operandi of the on-going Karachi operation were the main reasons for the dispute between Jamali and Thebo, both officials of grade 21." The officer recalled that Jamali and Thebo once had an altercation in the central police office following the torture of private guards of Zulfiqar Mirza in front of the Sindh High Court, where police also baton-charged some media persons.  Thebo, who was the city police chief at the time, clearly said: "I did not give any orders to the police to arrest Mirza's guards and torture media men."

After his statement, the IG was left to face the wrath of the judiciary. Sources said that the chief minister was informed by the IG and home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal that these officers were more loyal to the military leadership than the Sindh government, advising that their services were no longer required.  This irked the chief minister who directed the chief secretary to draft a summary that he approved and sent the officers packing.

When contacted, all four officers were unwilling to share the actual reason for their transfers. AIG Sanaullah Abbasi, a well-reputed officer who was heading the counter terrorism department said: "God knows I have no idea why all this has happened. This seems to be a mystery." A few days before his transfer, Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar personally went to meet Abbasi at his office and appreciated his role in dealing with terrorism.

Read: India, Afghanistan involved in religious terrorism, says IGP

Another officer who was once tasked to arrest former home minister Zulfikar Mirza, however, termed it a political decision. "I cannot comment, but all I will say is that our transfers were purely on political ground."

For his part, Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali told The Express Tribune called it a routine matter and refuted the rumours that he had differences with any police officers. "I am not against or pro any one. These are federal government officers and here worked here for around seven to eight years during which performed well. Now, their services have been given to the establishment department. It has nothing to do with politics," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2015.