KARACHI, April 14: The newly posted Provincial Police Officer of the Sindh Police Asif Hayat declined to take over his new responsibility on health grounds and the federal government is reviewing various names to appoint a new Sindh police chief.

Well-placed sources told this scribe former Inspector General of Punjab Police Major (retd) Malik Asif Hayat presently working as Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, was posted as the Sindh Police Chief as the outgoing police chief Jehangir Mirza attained the age of superannuation on Saturday. As Asif Hayat did not show up on Saturday, the outgoing police chief handed his charge over to Additional IG Niaz Ahmed Siddiqi.

A notification issued by the Services, General Administration & Coordination Department of Sindh government, here on Saturday, reads: “Mr Niaz Ahmed Siddiqi, an officer of police service of Pakistan (BS-21), Additional Inspector General of Police Sindh, Karachi, shall hold the charge of the post of provincial police officer, Sindh in addition to his own duties till further orders.”

A senior police officer in Sindh police said: “The orders about the posting of Mr Asif Hayat have been suspended. The name for the post of IG Sindh will be finalised in a couple of days.”

Some officials in the federal government requesting anonymity said implementation on Mr Asif Hayat’s posting orders was held in abeyance following some political considerations. Other sources, however, said that Mr Hayat declined to take charge as Sindh police chief saying that as the post carried a lot of stress, which his health did not allow him, therefore, his posting orders as IG Sindh be reversed.

Mr Asif Hayat when contacted by Dawn said: “I did not decline to be IG Sindh. My professional duties being federal secretary do not allow me to relinquish the charge forthwith and it will take a couple of days.” Asked if he would accept his new responsibility, he said: “It is up to the government to decide.”

The well-placed sources said that the federal government had started reviewing the names of candidates acceptable to the establishment and all political allies in the coalition government.

They claimed that a major ally of the Sindh coalition government backed Azhar Faruqui, presently working as the Capital City Police Officer Karachi, for the post of the IG Sindh.

However, Mr Faruqi did not qualify to be promoted to the next grade, BPS-21, as he had not been associated with the Sindh police for the past many years.

Mr Faruqi must serve at least one year to qualify to be promoted to the next grade and accorded seniority. Thereafter he would be eligible for the post of the IG Sindh.

Other potential candidates considered for the Sindh police chief are DG FIA Tariq Pervez, Chairman, Anti-Corruption Establishment Sindh Asad Ashraf Malick, Additional Inspector General of Police Sindh Nayyar Hasnain and Chief of Police Foundation Farid Nawaz, Niaz Siddiqi is also in consideration for the slot.