QUETTA: The criticism of Mr. Imran Khan on the Prime Minister was totally misplaced and against the ground realities as it was the police officer who misused his powers and publicly humiliated a chosen representative of the people of Pakistan who happen to be the Leader of Opposition in the Sindh Assembly.

Regardless his views Izharul Hassan deserves full respect from the law enforcing agencies and public functionaries as long as he is a distinguished member of the Sindh Parliament.  His both hands were tied with a rope as a mark is deep insult treating him like a hardened criminal. He had a different point of view in politics and running the affairs of the country which is inalienable right.

Imran Khan’s contempt towards the MQM and the Prime Minister is known to the people of Pakistan and he was unfair while offering questionable comment on an incident in which police officer grabbed the MPA and tied his both hands as their first function and his police constables were seen forcibly dragging the MPA towards the Armoured Personnel Carrier.

The Sindh Government had officially clarified that the Sindh Chief Minister had suspended Rao Anwar first and removed him from his post and later on the Prime Minister telephoned him about the incident. There is no question the PM influencing the decisions of the Sindh Government. The Prime Minister personally understands the pain as a public representative as he faced a similar or worst situation when General Pervez Musharraf overthrew his Government and arrested him along with members of his family and kept him in a dark prison cell.

The entire TV footage indicated that the police officer was more interested in insulting the Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly and not enforcing the laws of the land. If the police officer had shown the warrants, the situation would have been totally different. But the purpose was to insult the man and his family which caused uproar in the whole country.

Farooq Sattar is also seen in the TV footage questioning the police officer, a known blue eyed boy of the Pakistani establishment for the past three decades or more, where Mr. Izharul Hassan is being taken. He had been seen demanding constantly the warrant of arrest. Rao Anwar contemptuously ignored the questions from Dr Farooq Sattar, MNA and leader of the MQM Parliamentary Party in the National Assembly.

The Police officer leading the raid party failed to display the warrant of arrest. Earlier in the day, a police party searched the entire house of the MQM leader in his absence. Only female members of his family were present in the house and they were all harassed, horrified and the police party was accused of harassing the women folk.

The media and others had no knowledge that the police had obtained a search warrant or not from any lawful authority. Police took a considerable time in searching the house presumably locating some target killers hiding at the residence of Izharul Hassan on some dubious information.

The most interesting part of the story is that the Chief Executive of the Province had been kept in dark and not told about such an action against the Leader of the House. Same was the opinion from the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Agha Siraj Durrani and the police high ups. Why the Police Officer kept the entire Government in the dark?

The police officer demonstrated his powers saying that he is more powerful than the Chief Minister, Home Minister and even the top police general commanding the Police force in Sindh.

It is generally believed that some powerful elements in the Pakistani establishment had issued verbal instructions to Mr. Rao Anwar, the most favourite officer in the Sindh Police, to carry out the search operation and arrest Mr. Izharul Hassan without any official warrants for search and arrest. He implemented the order with letter and spirit as he received from someone. Otherwise, there was no harm in displaying the warrants of arrest.

During his appearance before a superior court of law in Karachi, Mr. Izharul Hassan sarcastically remarked that strategic cases can only be registered in Malir Police Station and nowhere else. In a way, he suggested a concocted case had been registered against him that was followed by police action against him.

In ordinary cases, police seeks permission from higher authorities making search of the houses and arrest common people. Mr. Izharul Hassan’s arrest stunned the Sindh Chief Minister indicated the police high handedness of the police against the Leader of Opposition.

To provide immediate relief to Mr. Izharul Hassan, the Sindh Chief Minister had to suspend Rao Anwar immediately and asked him to relieve the charge and order to shift the Leader of Opposition to another or neutral place where he should be released honourably pending strong action against Rao Anwar or case proceedings.

The DIG East, who was said to be a strategic member of the Police party in planning the raid at the residence of Izharul Hassan and his arrest, was immediately transferred and his services were placed at the disposal of the Federal Government in hours. In other words, Mr. Kamran Fazal was expelled from Sindh unceremoniously for his alleged misconduct and defying the constitutional authority in Sindh. It will remain a black spot on his future career for drawing orders from mysterious sources and not the Government of the day.

The police raid was considered as an attack on the political system and constitutional rule in Sindh by a police functionary. If there were cases against Izharul Hassan, the legal way was to display the warrants and the man will surrender before the law as he is no criminal to abscond. He will be the last person to surrender his perks and privileges as MPA or Leader of the Opposition.

Here the question arises why the Chief Minister and higher ups in the Sindh Government, particularly the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly. were kept in dark. Why a secret operation was conducted by using a police functionary? Thousands of MQM activists, leaders and Members of Assemblies and Parliament are arrested and many more absconding and there was nothing new to hide arrest or detention of Izharul Hassan.

It is known to all that the MQM activists and leaders are facing very serious charges in these days and it will not be a surprise for the people if yet another MQM legislator is arrested using the established and legal method of arrest.

It seems that the Police officer targeted the Sindh Government and the Chief Minister and not the MQM MPA and giving a shock treatment to the representative Government in Sindh.

The Sindh Government should hold a judicial inquiry into the incident besides departmental inquiry against the police officer to punish him severely.

In regard to the MQM leaders, they are facing court of law and get justice in due course of time.