HYDERABAD: Special Branch SSP Hyderabad Syed Imdad Shah has issued show-cause notices to two officials of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) Hyderabad under Removal from Service Ordinance, 1988.

One of the officials, who has received it, is blamed for remaining absent during treatment of the late BDS official Abdul Saleem Vistro.

Another official, Fakhrul Hasn­ain, had not received the notice yet, said a Special Branch source.

Sources told Dawn that the show-cause notices were issued regarding the Oct 28 incident that occurred in Tando Allahyar, claiming the life of Saleem Vistro on Oct 29 in a private hospital of Karachi. ASI Khan Bahadur is required to submit explanation to the SSP office. Reports indicated that the Special Branch DIG has asked the Hyderabad BDS staff to see him in Karachi on Friday.

“Fakhrul Hasnain is required to explain why he didn’t accompany Saleem to Tando Allahyar if matter was so important [of defusing crackers] and why did he not provide EDO (explosive ordinance disposal) suit to him,” said a source quoting the SSP. He said the SSP was angry as to why the officer spoke to the media. Hasnain, who is BDS in-charge, had spoken to the media about his resignation.

He has not received the show-cause notice yet reportedly.

ASI Bahadur — who had defused crackers on Oct 28 along with Vistro in Tando Allahyar — is asked to explain why he did not accompany Saleem Vistro to Tando Allahyar and then to Hyderabad hospital when Vistro was in a serious condition. He is accused of showing negligence and misconduct which requires disciplinary action against him. Both officers are asked to submit explanation as to why departmental action and one of major punishments as prescribed under the 1988 ordinance should not be awarded to them.

They could avail an opportunity of being heard in person as well, according to the show-cause notice and if their explanation is not submitted an ex parte decision would be taken against them.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2014