January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

HYDERABAD, Jan 3: Although four SHOs of police stations have been suspended for negligence of duty, no action has been taken against any supervising police officer (SPO) in the district after the violence broke out following the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

SHOs of Hussainabad, GOR, Bhittai Nagar and Husri police stations were suspended by the Hyderabad DPO for negligence or their failure to contain mobs on Dec 27 and Dec 28.

SHO of Hussainabad was suspended in the wake of torching of a multi-national chain of food restaurants and vehicles in his area while SHO of GOR was suspended for the same reason. The SHO of Husri was suspended for inaction when his police station was attacked and set on fire and Bhittai Nagar was also suspended for identical reason.

Qasimabad, Bhittai Nagar, Baldia, City, Market, Site were worst-affected localities but none of the SPOs of these talukas were suspended. Banks, buses, cars, filling stations and other buildings were torched in these localities in large numbers.

“They are to be suspended by the DIG if the DPO reports against them and no such report has been forwarded,” said a police source. He said that SPOs are being asked to ensure recovery of looted goods.

BOYCOTT: Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fayyaz Leghari avoided the media.

The media personnel boycotted the briefing after waiting for the RPO and army and Rangers officials for more than an hour.

DISTRICT NAZIM: District Nazim Hyderabad Kanwar Naveed Jamil is reported to have met all SPOs of the district and instructed them to ensure full recovery of the looted property and warned them of strict action in case of non-compliance.

Another police source claimed that SPOs were not being touched because they were making efforts to recover stolen items but they would certainly face action if the DPO recommended against them.