KARACHI, Jan 9: The Sindh inspector-general of police, Major (retired) Ziaul Hasan Khan, was transferred from his post on Wednesday and directed to report to the Establishment Division, Islamabad.
Sources said that the breakdown of law and order in Sindh following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007 necessitated the removal of police chief. In the aftermath of her assassination, violence spiraled out of control in the metropolis and spread across the province claiming many lives as well as private and public property on a mass scale.
According to a notification issued on Wednesday evening, Capital City Police Officer Azhar Ali Farooqi has been posted as acting inspector-general of police. Mr Farooqi would also retain the post of CCPO Karachi for the time being. However, sources said, he was likely to get the permanent charge of provincial police chief very soon.
Sources disclosed that the transfer of at least three superintendents of police, who were heading three towns in the city, was also on cards and the relevant notifications were awaited till Wednesday evening.
Several junior police officers had already been removed from their posts a few days back.
Major (retired) Ziaul Hasan Khan had assumed the charge of Provincial Police Officer on June 18 after former IG Jehangir Mirza refused to get extension in his service and subsequently got retirement in April 2007. Prior to his posting as the PPO, he was serving as commandant of the National Police Academy.
Ziaul Hasan, before his posting as the PPO, had submitted an affidavit against former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in a reference filed against him by the government on March 9. Sources said that his submission of an affidavit against the former chief justice proved fruitful for his posting as provincial police chief against the wishes of the ruling coalition partner in Sindh. They said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was adamant that the new PPO should be appointed from Sindh and not from Punjab though the party submitted tacitly to the federal government choice while considering that he would complete his tenure in six months. His retirement from the Police Service of Pakistan was due on December 13, 2007. However, during the course of time he was twice awarded extension, each time for six months. Now with the appointment of Azhar Ali Farooqi the long standing demand of the MQM would be met.
Well-placed sources said that Major Ziaul Hasan was likely to be posted as Federal Secretary Communications once he reported to the Establishment Division, Islamabad till his extension period expired.
Just after assuming the new charge Mr Farooqi stated that inquiry into riots on Dec 27 and 28 would be conducted and the police officers found guilty would face departmental action.
