Citizens decry reshuffle of district administration, police

HYDERABAD:

In a backlash without precedence in recent history, reshuffle of the district administration and police officials in Hyderabad has unnerved citizens and the business community. A widespread protest also seems to be on the cards following the removal of two members of the four-official team, some of whose endeavours appeared to be pivotal for the district’s development and law and order.

Hyderabad division commissioner Syed Asif Hyder Shah, deputy commissioner Fayyaz Jatoi, SSP Irfan Baloch and administrator of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), Khalid Mehmood Shaikh, comprised the team. The team is credited with reducing crime in the city, improving public perception of the police and engendering a sense of security among the traders. The removal of encroachments and construction and widening of the roads, among other measures, also won them public admiration.



However, to great dismay of the traders and staff of the HMC, administrator Shaikh was transferred in July. And, a few days ago, the Sindh government also removed the deputy commissioner, who was supervising the ongoing road construction projects in Hyderabad worth over a billion rupees. “We are also hearing that next in line will be the commissioner and then the SSP,” said Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, a former leader of the Pakistan Medical Association, who hosted a meeting of representatives of the political parties and the business community at his residence on Sunday.

He later spoke at a press conference. “The funds and development packages were always there but no DC spent them to develop the city,” he said. “Moreover, we never saw result-oriented action against encroachments in our lifetime.”

According to Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Ziauddin, Hyderabad looked like a city of ruins but the deputy commissioner took steps to change its face.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2015.