Court orders IGP to withdraw SSU commandos from VVIP security.

HYDERABAD -- The Sukkur bench of the Sindh High Court has ordered Sindh IGP to pull back commandos of Special Services Unit (SSU) from personal security of VVIPs, except foreign dignitaries and embassies, and deploy them for 'public safety', and directed home secretary to pursue the summary for the purchase of military grade weapons for Sindh police.

The bench comprising Justices Salahuddin Panhwar and Abdul Mobeen Lakho on Tuesday passed a 25-page order on a petition filed by High Court Bar Association, directing the IGP Sindh to ensure strict compliance of long and short term plans police had submitted to the court for maintenance of law and order in the province, especially in riverine area.

The order said the IGP should submit monthly report to additional registrar of the court without fail and all institutions should act in concert with police to maintain law and order as and when required.

It said that it was obligatory to get rid of the disease permanently instead of preventing it for a while. Mere elimination (of criminals) was not enough, hidden hands involved in their operation and growth ought to be handicapped permanently, it said.

The court said that a perusal of home secretary's report showed that deficiencies and non-allocation of funds might be one of the reasons behind poor performance of police but it was a lame excuse which the court did not appreciate. 'Accordingly, the home secretary shall pursue the summary with regard to purchase of military grade weapon(s) for Sindh police positively,' read the order.

The IGP informed the court the SSU force was based in Karachi and it was deployed only for the protection of VVIPs. It was not the objective of establishing the SSU. Conversely, the SSU deployment in sensitive areas would help curb crimes.

The order said the IGP should ensure deployment of SSU force for public safety as the force was disciplined having expertise to maintain law and order. The IGP should ensure removal of SSU commandos deputed for security of VVIPs, except foreign dignitaries and embassies, and ensure their deployment for public safety and eradication of heinous crimes.

It said the IGP should ensure special training for police throughout the province (from constable up to DSP) in different fields and it should be ensured that after special training, a common police constable should not be less skilled than SSU and RRF personnel.

The order said the court had given a freehand to the IGP...

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