Approval of Sindh Police posting, transfer & tenure demanded
Approval of Sindh Police posting, transfer & tenure demanded
Zafar Ahmed Khan
Pakistan

KARACHI: The civic rights and civil society activists on Monday expressed their deep disappointment with the “unrelenting efforts” of the Sindh government to subvert the landmark judgment of the Sindh High Court for police reforms by attempting to oust the incumbent IG Police – an upright and competent police officer.

KARACHI: The civic rights and civil society activists on Monday expressed their deep disappointment with the “unrelenting efforts” of the Sindh government to subvert the landmark judgment of the Sindh High Court for police reforms by attempting to oust the incumbent IG Police – an upright and competent police officer.

Addressing a joint press conference at Karachi Press Club, Nazim F. Haji from Trust Against Crimes, Karamat Ali, Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Khateeb Ahmed from Shehri CBE and Mir Zulfiqar Ali of Workers Education and Reseach Organisation said “We demand that no further attempts be made to undermine his role or appointment.   We also demand that the Sindh Police (Posting, Transfer and Tenure) Rules 2017 be approved and implemented forthwith.”

Nazim Haji said that he has come to know through reliable sources the Sindh government has restricted the financial resources and budget for the police is not being released.

He said civil society is faced today with an unfortunate and unprecedented situation.  A sitting government has undertaken to self-destruct the institution of Police and render it increasingly dysfunctional, politicised, demoralized and subjugated.

He also called upon all segments of the society to consider the dreadful implications of these acts and join them in demanding an apolitical, autonomous and accountable police force in the province of Sindh.  A professional police force that is not bound by the wishes and whims of politicians;  that works for all citizens according to the laws of the land and the rules of the organization;  that has a merit-based system for recruitment, postings and promotions and that is accountable to a Police Board that consists of government officials and committed citizens.

Plagued with lawlessness, private militias, street gangsters, land mafias, rural goons and urban militants, Sindh is crying out for peace, order and reform. This cannot be accomplished without an impartial, well respected and well trained police institution. A feudal approach to convert police into personal attendants can only result in harming the interests of the state, citizens and the institution, he added.

He pointed out that the citizens had filed the petition for police reforms. The SHC in a landmark decision had empowered the I.G. Police of Sindh to make changes in the rules. Those rules have been made but still the government is not approving them.

After the SHC verdict the citizens has prepared a Citizens Charter for police reform. This charter was presented to IGP A. D. Khwaja on October 25. He assured to take measures on implementation of all points of the charter. He also constituted a Committee headed by a DIG to sit with the representatives of the civic society for implementation of the points of Civic Charter.

Karamat Ali asked the provincial government to stop all types of confrontations with police. “We are not against the Sindh Government and we have written a letter to the Chief Minister of Sindh for appointment to personally present our views,” he added.