Sindh restrained from surrendering IG without consultation with Islamabad.

Byline: Ishaq Tanoli

KARACHI -- Amid the fresh episode of strained relations between the Sindh government and the provincial police officer, the Sindh High Court on Monday restrained the provincial authorities from surrendering the services of the Sindh inspector general of police without consultation with the federal government till Jan 28.

The two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar also issued notices to the federal and provincial authorities as well as other respondents to file comments by the next date of hearing.

A provincial law officer contended that the Sindh government would not act against the law on the issue of IG Syed Kaleem Imam and submitted that he was not removed and with regard to the question of surrendering his services, the provincial government had already communicated it to the federal government and the consultation process had been started.

Jibran Nasir and others through their counsel Faisal Siddiqui moved the SHC and sought enforcement of Article 12(2) of the Sindh (Repeal of the Police Act, 1861 and Revival of Police Order, 2002) (Amendment) Act, 2019 in letter and spirit. They also filed an interlocutory application seeking restraining order against removal or surrender of the services of the IG without substantive consultation with the federal government as required under article 12 of the act.

SHC issues notices to stakeholders to respond by 28th

The lawyer submitted that the law had provided a three-year tenure for the posting of IGP and contended that without meaningful consultation with the federal government, the Sindh government had decided to surrender the services of the IG unilaterally to the establishment division.

He also produced a copy of a letter communicated to the establishment division secretary by the provincial government on Jan 6 in which a request was made to surrender back the services of the IGP. Some allegations had also been made regarding the performance of the provincial police officer.

The bench observed that the letter transpired the decision of the provincial cabinet, which was communicated to the establishment division, for recalling the services of Mr Imam as the IGP of Sindh and posting of a new IGP with mutual consultation between the federal and provincial governments as laid down in the law.

'Look-after' charge issue

It was further communicated that till the new IGP was posted, the Sindh government will assign the 'look-after' charge of the post of IGP to...

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