IG Sindh’s dismissal

The Sindh government is in motion to send the police chief packing.  The provincial cabinet has been dissatisfied over the performance of the Inspector-General Police (IGP) Sindh Kaleem Imam and handed over his services back to the Centre.

This has created a new political controversy over concerns that the PPP government want to bring back staunch loyalist Ghulam Qadir Thebo to the top job. The opposition had raised a hue and cry saying that the Sindh government wants to make the police subservient and use it to suppress political opponents.

The removal of the police chief is not as controversial in other provinces as in Sindh. In November, the PTI government replaced Punjab IGP Arif Nawaz Khan with Shoaib Dastgir, while last month KP’s police chief Naeem Khan was also transferred and replaced with Sanuallah Abbasi. These shuffles went by without any hindrance but the issue hit a road block in Sindh.

The noise gives credence to the Sindh government’s claims that it does not have the authority to make its own decisions. The chief minister, as the chief executive of the province, should have the authority to replace police officers and chiefs. Several ministers had shown dissatisfaction over the IGP for not attending key meetings and making media statements.

The Sindh government cited deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi- particularly the murder of a young girl and kidnapping of another from a posh locality under his watch. The government also claims that violence, street crimes, target killing, and other criminal activities increased during his tenure. This contradicts claims that crime has been reduced in Karachi over the years.

The Sindh government often makes political postings and shuffles. It is reported that PPP MPA Taimour Talpur had pushed for Kaleem Imam’s removal after a case was registered against him for allegedly attacking PTI leaders. Political opponents have termed the dismissal as pre-poll rigging before the local body elections.

The upheaval over the police chief’s removal has prompted the prime minister to take notice. He has tasked Governor Imran Ismail to hold consultations with all stakeholders. The PTI has decided to move court against the dismissal saying it will not allow the police chief’s removal.

This dismissal stems from months of confrontation between the chief minister and the IGP. It has become the norm to replace police chiefs regularly without having them complete their terms. The Sindh government should refrain from making this post controversial as it creates uncertainty within the force and affects law and order.