KARACHI, Sept 12: Against the backdrop of the Rangers-led targeted operation aimed at restoring peace in Karachi, the Sindh government introduced changes

in the police hierarchy on Thursday, which for many observers are ‘radical’ and ‘show the government’s seriousness to resolve the long-standing issue of violent disturbances’.

The appointment of Shahid Hayat as the Karachi police chief and Syed Zakir Hussain and Sanaullah Abbasi to steer the Special Branch were among many significant postings.

“We have introduced a new team with the same old objective to improve the law and order situation in Karachi,” the Chief Minister’s Consultant on Home Affairs, Sharfuddin Memon, said.

He said the previous team had been ‘effectively’ conducting targeted operations against extortionists and other criminals, but it had been replaced with a new set-up to show that the government’s intentions were good and fair.

“We have introduced a new team to show that the government is impartial in all the proceedings and allay any apprehensions in this regard. The only objective of our effort is to make Karachi peaceful and bring back normal life there,” he said.

He said the transfers and postings should not be taken as out of routine.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Services, General Administration and Coordination Department, Zakir Hussain (BS-21), additional inspector general of police (AIGP), traffic, was transferred and posted as AIGP, Special Branch.

Ghulam Qadir Thebo, AIGP, Karachi Range, was transferred and posted as AIGP, traffic. He was replaced by Shahid Hayat (BS-20), who was transferred from his post of deputy inspector general (DIG), Special Branch.

Sanaullah Abbasi, DIG (headquarters), replaced Mr Hayat as DIG, Special Branch, while Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar, who was awaiting posting, replaced Mr Abbasi as DIG (headquarters).

Bashir Ahmed Memon, DIG (administration), was posted as AIGP (research) against a vacancy.

Ghulam Sarwar Jamali, awaiting posting, was posted as DIG, Crime Branch, Hyderabad, replacing Farhat Ali Junejo, who was posted as DIG (admin), Karachi.

Retired Capt Mohammad Tahir Naveed, DIG, East Zone, Karachi, was transferred and posted as DIG (finance).

Dr Kamran Fazal, DIG, Crime Investigation Department’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, was transferred and posted as DIG, Crime Branch, Karachi.

Munir Ahmed Shaikh, DIG, Sindh Reserve Police, Karachi, was posted as DIG, East Zone, in place of Mr Naveed.

Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, DIG, traffic, Karachi, was posted as DIG, South Zone, from where Aamir Ahmed Shaikh was transferred and posted as DIG, CID-CTU in place of Dr Fazal.

Javed Akhtar Odho, DIG, Larkana Range, was transferred and posted as DIG, West Zone, Karachi, from where Mohammad Arif Hanif was transferred and posted as DIG, traffic, Karachi.

Sharjil Karim Kharal (BS-19) was posted as DIG, Sukkur Range, Khadim Hussain Rind as DIG, Larkana, in place of Mr Odho, and Farooq-i-Azam as DIG, Rapid Response Force, in his own pay and scale against an existing vacancy.