RAWALPINDI: Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has taken notice of the arrest of PML-N leader retired Capt Mohammad Safdar in Karachi and order an “immediate inquiry” in the matter.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said COAS Bajwa has directed the Karachi Corps Commanders to “immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible.”
The statement comes minutes after PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said all top officers of Sindh Police were wondering “who were the people who surrounded” the Sindh police chief’s house in the early hours of Monday and took him to an unspecified location before PML-N leader retired Capt Mohammad Safdar was arrested.
Several senior officers, including IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar, in protest over mishandle and ridicule of the Sindh police officials. The officials include the Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi, the AIG Special Branch, and several Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) of police.
An application signed by AIG Special Branch Imran Yaqoob stated that he wishes to proceed on leave because the police high command has been ridiculed and mishandled.
“The recent episode of registration of FIR against Capt (R) Safdar in which police high command has not only been ridiculed and mishandled but all ranks of Sindh police have been demoralized and shocked.
“In such a stressful situation it is quite difficult for me to discharge my duty in a professional manner,” Yaqoob said in his application. He applied for 60-day earned leaves to come out of the shock and settle down.
The officers have reportedly said that if their request is not entertained, they will simply stop showing up to their postings.
The development comes a day after the arrest and subsequent release on bail of PML-N leader retired Captain Mohammad Safdar in Karachi.
A day earlier, Sindh Police’s Digital Media Cell had tweeted, then deleted, then tweeted again a statement defending Captain Safdar’s arrest, saying it was done “according to the law”.
