KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday established a ministerial body to probe the arrest of retired Capt Safdar Awan, husband of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and alleged manhandling of the “highest level of police”.

According to a notification issued by the home department of Sindh, the government of Sindh has constituted a cabinet committee to probe/inquire the incident/matter pertaining to an FIR (561/2020) registered against retired Capt Safdar on Oct 18 at the Brigade police station.

The committee is led by Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani and it comprises Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Minister for Transport Awais Qadir Shah and Adviser to Chief Minister on Law barrister Murtaza Wahab. The committee may co-opt any other person for the purpose of the inquiry.

Committee to submit a report within 30 days

According to the terms of reference, the cabinet committee will “enquire and probe into the incident of 18th and 19th Oct wherein the police were allegedly pressurized to lodge FIR against Capt (retd) Safdar and to probe and enquire about the way and manner the police raided Avari Towers hotel, Karachi allegedly violating the privacy and dignity of Ms Maryam Nawaz, vice president of PML-N and Capt (retd) Safdar”.

The ministerial body would also “probe and enquire into the alleged ridiculing, manhandling of the highest level of the police which left the entire police force demoralized and unwilling to continue with their duties.”

The cabinet body may also probe any matters relating to the said incident, which have bearing on it (the incident). It has been directed to submit its report within a period of 30 days.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020