IG Khawaja complains about Sindh govt's move to curtail powers

• Published date: 11 June 2017
• Publication title: Regional Times

A tug of war between the PPP government and Sindh police chief A.D. Khuwaja over powers doesn't seem to end as the latter on Saturday complained to the Sindh chief secretary about the government clipping his wings, it was reported.

IG Khawaja wrote a letter to the Sindh's top bureaucrat, expressing his reservations over the government's moves aimed at curtailing his powers.

In the letter, he submitted that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali had transferred some of his powers to the chief secretary, including those related to routine matters. The powers pertaining to seeking permission or reporting the authorities before going out of station belonged to the IGP, however, these powers were unlawfully transferred to the chief secretary, he regretted.

Earlier on May 31, the Sindh government had issued directives to deputy inspector general of police (DIGPs) and senior superintendent of police (SSPs) to seek permission from or report to the chief secretary prior going out of station.

The PPP government and IG Khawaja have been at loggerheads over the latter's refusal to appoint government favorite police officer ahead of by-elections in some constituencies and devising merit-based recruitment policy in the police force.

The rift between the Sindh government and IG Khawaja had come to the fore...