ISLAMABAD: After enjoying a few months of non-interference in the affairs of theKarachi Police, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah is now again under tremendous pressure from one of his key party leaders to make choice postings in the city police to serve the vested interests of a few, particularly those belonging to the land grabbers or the “Qabza Mafia”.
Informed sources said reputed police officers of Karachi and top officials of Karachi Rangers are extremely upset over the recent transfer of Rao Anwar as SSP Malir in violation of the understanding reached a few months back following the federal government’s intervention to bring peace in the city.
They apprehend that the respected CCPO Karachi Shahid Hayat and three of his reputed deputies, including DIG East Munir Shaikh, DIG South Abdul Khaliq Shaikh and DIG CIA Sultan Khawaja are also on the “hit list” of the Mafia and would be removed from their present positions if the latest wave of interference in the policing matters was not stopped.
Following an understanding between the Sindh government and federal government, it was agreed that a three-member committee comprising IG Sindh, CCPO Karachi and DG Rangers would recommend any key change required in the city police.
However, without the information of the said committee, the Sindh government got Rao Anwar posted as SSP Malir.The IG Sindh, who is said to be retiring and is eyeing a post retirement job, agreed to this transfer, but the DG Rangers and CCPO Karachi took a serious exception to this appointment.
Rao Anwar is said to have a controversial reputation but still has been appointed following an order coming from a key PPP leader. The Sindh chief minister was not willing to make this appointment at the cost of peace in Karachi, but he could not withstand the pressure.
A PPP leader and his businessman friend are alleged to using police for one of their major business ventures. Vast areas of lands are to be acquired, occupied and encroached for development.
The sources said that both the Rangers and CCPO Karachi want complete depoliticisation of the Karachi Police to carry out the ongoing targeted operation. They want the reversal of the appointment of Rao Anwar.
The DG Rangers and CCPO Karachi, the sources said, want complete implementation of what was agreed between the federal and provincial governments with regard to the transfers and appointments in the Karachi Police.
The Karachi operation has though brought down the ratio of major crimes in the city, it is insisted that only through sustained but apolitical police-rangers operation things would improve. “Any interference in policing matters, particularly the politicised appointments of police officers, will undo everything and push the city back to chaos,” a source said.
It is said that the police officers who were picked up at the start of the operation had performed exceedingly well and there were no complaints of any massive corruption. The Karachi Police have made a remarkable improvement in its working and functioning, these sources said.
The incumbent IG is said to be retiring next week. It is said that the appointment of new Sindh IG would set the tone for the future of the Karachi operation.Sources in the Karachi security forces are desirous of seeing the likes of Zulfikar Cheema, presently the Motorways IG, and Mir Zubair, Quetta CCPO, to ensure peace in Karachi.
The appointment of Sindh IG would be made by the federal government in consultation with the Sindh government. Both Cheema and Zubair enjoy great reputation because of their integrity and performance. They don’t succumb to political pressures on professional matters, which should be a pre-requisite for the Sindh Police chief.
It is said that the Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday, had also briefed him about the efforts made to dump the Karachi Police officers, who are delivering and doing a fine job in the targeted operation.
The prime minister, according to an official statement, appreciated the operation being carried out against the criminals which, he said, will continue as the government was fully committed to restoring peace in Karachi.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, has also expressed concern over media reports suggesting differences between the Sindh Rangers and government over some transfers and postings in the Karachi Police.He appealed to the prime minister and army chief General Raheel Sharif to intervene and resolve the differences between the Sindh government and the Rangers.
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