HYDERABAD, March 20: A division bench of the Supreme Court has directed the provincial police officer, Sindh, to personally conduct an inquiry to find out how a service station owned by a law-abiding citizen was taken over by police.

The apex court directed the PPO to submit report and appear personally before the court instead of sending any subordinate officer.

The complaint was sent in the first week of March by Abdul Karim Khan, the attorney of lessee, Qamaruddin.

The bench comprises Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan.

The bench took up the matter on March 15, and the order was communicated to the complainant two days back.

The order written by the chief justice of Supreme Court was passed after the court took suo motu notice on the complaint sent through a fax to the court, besides other government functionaries.

Anwar Subhani, AIG and acting DSP (legal) appeared before the court and filed comments on behalf of the PPO.

The additional advocate-general, Sindh, Dr Qazi Khalid Ali, obtained time to seek instructions.

The complainant said that he was the lawful lessee of the New Al-Mustafa service station (petrol pump) and the lease was valid till 2023.

He said that on March 4, at around 5pm seven police mobiles escorted by DSP (headquarters) Aslam Rajput, PS Cantonment SHO Jawaid Khanzada, City SHO Aijaz Bhatti and Market SHO Ahmed Qureshi along with 70 to 80 policemen of different ranks and police commandos reached the petrol pump and asked the staff to immediately vacate the premises.

“When we asked about reason as to why we should vacate the premises, they said they had received direction from their high-ups including the DPO and the RPO to get it vacated immediately”, the complainant stated.