KARACHI, May 4: Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui has announced that three police officials of the special branch, namely DSP Ismail Baluch, Inspector Abdul Rehman and Office Superintendent Shamsher Ali have been suspended while action has been recommended against SP Special Branch Farhat Junejo.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the home minister said that these officials were involved in the issuance of a letter directing their subordinates to monitor the activities of members of parliament and Sindh Assembly both in government and opposition without the knowledge of their superiors. IGP Asad Jehangir, CCPO Karachi, DIGs Operation, Political Branch and Special Branch were also present at the conference.

Rauf Siddiqui said that they had also issued orders to keep watch on his (home minister) activities and possibly the chief minister too. He pointed out that such kind of pattern used to be followed in the past and ever since he took over as home minister he had issued strict orders to give up all such practices.

He said that the act of these officials showed as if the special branch was superior to the parliament and there was no respect for parliamentarians and assembly members. He said that when this letter was brought to his notice, he personally inquired the matter and appointed Additional IG Nayyar Hasnain to probe into the same.

The home minister said that if the special branch wanted to collect any information about any member of the assembly, it should be in a graceful and dignified manner. Any senior officer could have met an MPA, MNA or a senator to collect the desired information, he said, regretting that it was wrong and disgraceful to keep a petty constable put on watch on them.

Rauf Siddiqui believed that this letter was issued by these officials to show their “efficiency” in the hope that this action would please him and high police officers. He said that if any element of a conspiracy behind issuance of this letter was found during the inquiry, the officers would be handed over letters of termination and sent to jail.

About the measures taken to control street crimes, the home minister said that an anti-street crime cell had been set up and 10 teams with four DSPs were formed to operate in North Nazimabad, Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Clifton, Saddar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Keamari, SITE and Jamshed towns. He said that all these cases would be monitored by DIG Operation. Besides, he said investigation in bank dacoities and robberies would be supervised by DIG Investigation.—APP