KARACHI, June 9: Ignoring the order of the Sindh ombudsman, police officials have not vacated the building of the Government Elementary College, Badin, which is being used by the district police officer (investigation) for residential purposes.

The Sindh Ombudsman, Yousuf Jamal, in a letter on March 20 written to the then Provincial Police Officer, Mr Jehangir Mirza, had sought his comments regarding the public complaints about the illegal occupation of the college building by the District Police Officer (Investigation) Mr Anwar Mari.

The ombudsman, in his letter, stated that on the occasion of the inauguration of the ombudsman’s regional office in Badin on March 17 this year, the Badin District Nazim, Mr Ali Anwar Halepoto, had raised the issue of the illegal occupation of the building.

The district nazim had also informed the ombudsman that he had brought the matter to the notice of Mr Mirza, but no attention was paid to his request and the college building was still being used by the DPO for residential purposes.

The ombudsman, in his letter, further stated: “if the allegation is correct, it clearly falls within the ambit of the term ‘mal-administration’ as defined in the Ombudsman’s Act and remedial action has to be taken for not only getting the premises vacated but also for initiating necessary disciplinary action against the belligerent official.”

In reply to the ombudsman’s letter the AIG (operations) for the provincial police officer, Sindh, stated that the matter was referred to the RPO (Hyderabad). He, in turn, informed that in the past the bungalow was occupied by Mr Abdul Aziz Memon, former chairman, district public safety commission, Badin, and thereafter by Mr Qamar Raza Jiskani, former SP (investigation) of the same district, which was later occupied by Mr Anwar Ali Mari, SP (Investigation), Badin.

“Officers of various departments/institutions are occupying other bungalows in the college but they have not been issued any notice to vacate the bungalow,” police officials stated, adding that in the district there was only one designated house for the DPO, while there was no accommodation for the SP (investigation).

When contacted, the Sindh ombudsman said that the former IG Police, Jehangir Mirza, was duty-bound to personally investigate the matter and have the building vacated.

He said the complaint was raised in a public meeting of about 400 participants. The people, he said, had no other option to educate their children, saying that the government officials were supposed to solve the people’s problems and not increase them.