HYDERABAD: A show-cause notice was issued to a politically influential SHO of Hyderabad, Arsalan Sattar Solangi, by the district police chief for disobeying the orders of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The notice was issued by Hyderabad SSP Shahzeb Chachar as part of departmental proceedings in the wake of a high court’s order. Such information was shared on behalf of the Hyderabad SSP before the bench the other day.

The notice reads that the SHO avoided implementing the high court’s order in an amenity plot’s encroachment case filed before Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench by a petitioner-lawyer, Ghazala Hussain Panhwar.

Police records showed that the court passed an order on Feb 3, 2026 on the petition of Ms Ghazala against Neroonkot Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) Chairman Manthar Jatoi. The directives were given by the court to the SSP to ensure compliance of the orders, requiring dismantling of encroachment on the amenity plots as highlighted by the petitioner.

Despite the fact that the SSP repeatedly directed the SHO in writing on Feb 2 and 9 in the wake of court’s proceedings, the SHO gave two hoots to the orders. The petitioner again told the court during the March 5 hearing and the court again directed the SSP to ensure compliance of the Feb 3, 2026 court’s orders but in vain.

When the matter again took up on March 10, the court issued show-cause notices to the TMC chairman and SHO after the petitioner said that construction on the amenity plots was continuing by TMC chairman with active support of SHO.

The bench comprising Justice Arbab Ali Hakro and Justice Riazat Ali Sahar viewed it seriously, ordering dismantling of encroachment and submitting a report on March 17.

The encroachment was demolished on one plot as partial compliance of the court order relating to illegal construction on one amenity space. The court has referred the matter about construction of dispensary on the second amenity plot to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) chairman.

The SHO was told in the show-cause notice that after March 5 proceedings of the court, he was again directed in writing on March 9 to implement the court’s order but despite the restraining orders and SSP’s directives, construction continued on plot with his active support and facilitation as observed by the court.

The SSP mentioned in the notice that it was SHO’s responsibility to implement the court’s order and office’s directives, but he failed, which amounted to gross misconduct and willful disregard of lawful orders. The SHO was required to submit his reply in seven days.

Arsalan Solangi was appointed in police on the shaheed quota after his father’s death while performing duties. Despite being a junior, he was known for getting posting regularly of his choice preferably at Market or Pinyari police stations — the infamous police stations for illegal economy of mainpuri and gutka — considering his political-cum-family connection within the Sindh’s ruling party.

Then SSP Dr Farrukh Ali only denied him posting in the last couple of years back only once. District police chiefs avoid touching him to placate ruling party leaders. In the present case, too, the issuance of a show cause by the SSP had become inevitable.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026