KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday ordered inspector general of police to remove SSP-South Zubair Shaikh and order disciplinary proceedings against him after an inquiry report found him responsible for leading a police crackdown on Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan workers, including women and children, when they were staging a protest against the local government law outside CM House on Jan 26.

Unimpressed by the government’s move, the MQM-P, however, insisted that a terrorism case should be registered against the chief minister of the province for the brutal action.

The move from CM House was announced by Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani, who said that the decision to remove the officer from his post was made in line with the findings of an inquiry report.

Ghani says inquiry report finds Muttahida deviated from designated route on Jan 26

“The Sindh CM has ordered to immediately remove SSP Zubair Shaikh posted in South Zone of Karachi from his post on the basis of the recommendations of an inquiry committee, which probed into the police action launched to tackle the MQM-P rally outside the CM House on Jan 26,” the information minister said in a statement.

“The Sindh home secretary has submitted the findings of the probe committee to the CM. The CM has also ordered the officials concerned to launch disciplinary proceedings against the South Zone SSP in Karachi as per the recommendations of the probe committee. The CM has also asked the officials concerned to seek an explanation from the DIG South Zone Sharjil Kharal in accordance with the recommendations,” it added.

A policeman who had baton-charged MQM-P MPA Sadaqat Hussain was suspended.

Citing the briefs of the report, he said that the inquiry found that the MQM-P had taken out a protest rally in the city at a time when international cricketers were staying at hotels in the Red Zone to take part in PSL matches.

It said that the inquiry committee concluded that the MQM-P had deviated from its designated route and instead of reaching the Karachi Press Club for agitation party workers and leaders entered the Red Zone. “The report mentions that cricketers associated with the PSL as per a scheduled plan at that time had to come outside their hotels for practice at the National Stadium but they were unable to do so due to MQM-P rally.”

MQM moves court

The MQM-P, on the other hand, sounded determined for lodging an FIR against the CM.

Some MQM-P leaders visited City Courts to file an application under Section 22-A of the criminal procedure code that gives power to a sessions judge to direct registration of a case, in case of failure of police official to discharge their statutory obligation as vested in them under Section of 154 of the CrPC.

Speaking to journalists at the City Courts, the MQM-P leaders said that the party workers and supporters, including women and children, were baton-charged outside the official residence of the CM and it was his responsibility to take immediate measures to avoid such a brutal action.

“One of our workers died while another lost his eye,” said Kanwar Naveed Jamil, who was flanked by Muhammad Hussain and Mehfooz Yar Khan.

“An elected MPA was dragged on the road and later he was brutally tortured by the police. We find no one but the Sindh CM responsible for all this brutality. We would knock every door and make every legal attempt for our right,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2022