‘Sindh govt will not let police be demoralised under any circumstances’


CM Murad meets IGP Mahar, other senior police officers, reassures them of 'govt's support at every stage'

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reassured the Sindh Police of the government’s support at every stage in a meeting held on Wednesday with Sindh Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar and other senior officers.

During the meeting, CM Murad lauded the Sindh Police's efforts in trying to restore peace in the province, especially Karachi.

The chief minister acknowledged the sacrifices made by the police, in addition to their services and professionalism, to maintain law and order in Sindh.

Shah assured the provincial police's top brass that the government would not let the force be demoralised under any condition.

He further praised the peacemakers’ achievements in making important arrests in major terror incidents and encouraged them to continue their professional services with full vigor.

“Sindh Police should continue its work in an independent and impartial manner, and the government is taking steps to further strengthen the professionalism of the police,” the chief minister concluded.

Police officials thanked CM Murad for exhibiting the government’s support at every stage, and vowed to continue to protect the lives and property of the people.

The meeting was held in response to Sindh police high-ups deciding to go on leave in protest against the humiliation meted out to them in the lead-up to the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader Capt (retd) Safdar.

Sindh IGP defers leave

Hours after the police announced the protest, IG Mushtaq Mahar deferred his own leave and ordered his officers to set aside their leave applications for 10 days, pending conclusion of the inquiry into the arrest.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Sindh police thanked army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa for “realising the sense of hurt that prevailed within a uniformed force, and for promptly ordering an inquiry into the matter, which he has also assured will be impartial in order to restore the prestige of the Sindh police”.

The Sindh police also thanked Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for showing solidarity with the police force.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, Bilawal said that he wanted to know the identities of the people who surrounded Sindh IGP Mahar’s house at 4am, shortly before the arrest of Safdar.

Capt (retd) Safdar's arrest

An FIR was registered against Safdar for chanting slogans of “vote ko izzat do” (respect the vote) and “Māder-e Millat Zindabad” (long live Mother of the Nation) at Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, and for allegedly threatening to kill someone.

The arrest came in response to a case filed by a relative of a local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader against Safdar. However, he was released on bail from court. Safdar had come to Karachi from Lahore on Sunday along with a PML-N delegation, including Vice President Maryam Nawaz and other party leaders, to attend the Pakistan Democratic Movement rally on Bilawal’s invitation.

According to the Sindh police statement, “This [going on leave] was a spontaneous and heartfelt reaction and made on an individual rather than a collective basis, because every single member of the department felt an acute sense of disrespect.”

Inquiry committee

Meanwhile, Sindh CM Murad on Tuesday said that the provincial government had decided to form an inquiry committee to probe the arrest of Safdar from a hotel in Karachi a day earlier.

During a news conference, CM Murad said that the PML-N leadership visited Mazaar-e-Quaid and “some things happened which should not have happened”.

However, he claimed that the PTI leadership desecrated the shrine many times as well.

“A false case can be filed but police did its due diligence,” CM Murad said. “I am not saying that the case was wrong, this is my own opinion, and that is for the court to decide. I cannot give a verdict here as it would compromise the inquiry,” he said.

The chief minister said that three to five ministers would be part of the investigation committee and will present the findings to the federal government to ensure action can be taken and the people apprised of the facts of the situation.

Murad said the matter would also be raised in the Sindh Assembly.

“Their [PTI’s] intentions violated the sanctity of Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum,” he said. “That person who registered [namely Waqas] the FIR is a proclaimed offender. He comes from the National Highway, sits with the PTI members and then registers the case. Later, he says that he received death threats.”

Referring to the incident, Murad said the whole episode shows “PTI's incompetence and it is necessary to change the government for the betterment of the people”.

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Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/2269300/sindh-govt-will-not-let-police-be-demoralised-under-any-circumstances