KARACHI: The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed by the provincial authorities that 12,000 police officials were found involved in misuse of powers and had patchy backgrounds.

Headed by Justice Faisal Arab and also comprising Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a two-judge bench was hearing a case pertaining to the involvement of policemen in crime, at its Karachi registry.

At the outset of the hearing, the home department placed on record a fresh report, informing the court about the action taken against the police officers with patchy records.

Senior officers involved in crimes, including abetting murder, illegal confinement

The report said that DSP Nisar Ahmed Brohi was compulsorily retired after he was found guilty of illegally recruiting 134 constables.

According to the report, former IGP of Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali, former AIG Finance Fida Hussain, SSP Ghulam Azfar Mahesar, Matiari district SP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh and other top-rank policemen’s conduct was found illegal.

The report said that Sharea Faisal SDPO Shakeel Ahmed Sarfaraz was imposed a penalty of reduction in pay scale as he had illegally confined a lawyer and his wife at his police station.

The report said that action against 21 officers of grade 17 was initiated after they were found involved in illegal activities.

It said the SDPO of Garhi Khairo, Jacobabad, DSP Abdul Majeed Abro, was issued a show-cause notice as he was nominated in the murder case of a 15-year-old girl. The DSP was accused of facilitating the murder of a girl, Aneela Dharpali, who was declared kari, by handing her over to her parents in 2012.

Earlier, the SC had directed the secretary for establishment division, government of Pakistan, and the Sindh home secretary to submit comprehensive reports regarding the action taken against 35 police officers of grade 18 and above; and 31 officials of BS-17.

During a previous hearing, provincial Inspector General of Police A.D. Khowaja had submitted a report, informing the court that there was no discrimination in initiating action against the delinquent officers as the same was taken against low-ranking officers without delay.

The IGP had told the judges that up to the level of BS-16 the police department was competent to take disciplinary action; the police chief could not take action against officers of grade 17 and above. He added that the home minister was the competent authority to take action against officials of BS-17, and for BS-18 and above the chief minister had the powers through the SGA&CD.

A.D. Khowaja had informed the apex court that he had sent the list of 31 officials of BS-17 to the home department and another list showing misconduct of 35 officers of BS-18 was sent to the chief secretary.

The bench put off the matter to a date to be later pronounced by the court’s office.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017