KARACHI: Terming the transfer of Inspector General of Police, Sindh A. D. Khowaja “illegal and unconstitutional”, members of the civil society stressed the need for implementing police reforms.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, the executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Karamat Ali, said that the Sindh High Court recently gave a stay order on the IGP’s transfer.

The SHC’s decision was based on a petition filed by a civil society group, through their counsel Advocate Faisal Siddiqi. Soon after the IGP’s transfer on April 1, Advocate Siddiqi sent a legal notice to the Sindh government representatives for their alleged contempt of court.

The petition pertaining to the “attempt of illegally removing A.D. Khowaja posted as IG Sindh” was filed in the SHC in December 2016.

The petitioners — Nazim Haji, Shehzad Roy, Karamat Ali and Aquila Ismail as well as institutions such as Urban Resource Centre, Piler and Orangi Pilot Project — had demanded abolishment of the Police Act of 1861 and to implement the Police Order of 2002 in its place.

Activist Mahnaz Rahman told the press conference that the Police Order-2002 was passed by the National Assembly and was still legally enforced across the country. “No provincial assembly has the power to challenge its efficacy.”

Three months back, in its first ruling, the SHC dismissed the transfer orders of the IGP and issued a stay order, which meant the IGP could not be transferred. But a day ago, Mr Khowaja was sent packing and replaced by a grade-21 police officer.

Mr Ali said: “The Sindh government went ahead with the decision to transfer the IGP even after writing to the federal government. The provincial government did not even wait for the response to their letter which speaks volumes.”

In the contempt of court notice sent by Advocate Siddiqi, IGP Khowaja was also reminded that if he left his position, that, too, would count as an illegal act and consider as contempt of court.

Mr Haji, one of the petitioners who is also the chairman of the Citizen’s Trust Against Crime, was also present at the press conference.

Speaking about the legal notice sent to the government, he said: “We’ll pursue the case in court if the notification of March 31 for the IGP’s removal is not taken aback.”

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2017