KARACHI, March 9: Political and religious leaders, former judges, parliamentarians and social activists on Sunday severely criticized the governor’s quashment of the Sindh Ombudsman order for a committee to check irregularities at police stations.

The Ombudsman had earlier ordered setting up of a committee with powers to enter any police station and detect cases of illegal detention.

Top police officials had approached the governor requesting him to quash the ombudsman’s order. Their plea was accepted.

The governor’s quashment order has sent a wave of anger in political, religious and social circles.

The governor’s action has been described as ‘illegal and without any grounds’.

The former chief justice of Pakistan, Syed Sajjad Ali Shah and Prof Ghafoor Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami termed the governor’s move illegal and wrong which, they said, amounted to intervention into the ombudsman’s jurisdiction. Prof Ghafoor feared that the move would allow police to perpetuate more cruel acts against common citizens.

The former Governor of Sindh, Mamnoon Hussain, said the committee set up by the Ombudsman had reputed retired judges as its members and their action would have been praiseworthy and commendable. The governor should not react arbitrarily on any initiative taken by the Ombudsman to provide relief to masses, he added.

The ex-PPP senator, Taj Haider said that the governor had no authority to intervene into the affairs of Ombudsman and that it was legal right of the Ombudsman to take notice of public complaints.

Prof N. D. Khan of PPP termed the governor’s order said intervention into affairs of ‘murder of justice’.

Noted lawyer, Nasir Maqsood, and Bachal Khaskheli said that such actions by the governor could encourage corrupt police officials.—PPI