KARACHI, March 12 A major reshuffle in the Sindh police is expected to take place shortly after the takeover of the next provincial government, which may post DIGs in Karachi favoured by the influential men of the future setup.

Sources in police and senior leaders of the Pakistan People's Party, which is set to take over the Sindh administration for a third time since 1988, told Dawn that certain personalities had started receiving inputs about and feedback on officers holding different offices, and a few sitting officers are likely to get replaced by them.

“Chances of the Sindh IG being replaced are very high,” said a source privy to considerations being weighed by the PPP and discussions in the senior ranks of the Sindh police.

“There are various reasons for the shakeup of the police hierarchy but the most important reason perhaps is the perception bout the existing setup which is supposed to be under the influence of the outgoing administration.”

Names of some of the officers, the source said, had already been taken up by the would-be provincial cabinet of the PPP and discussion for the appointment of one of the two senior-most officers might get a final approval within a few days.

“Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak, currently serving as the additional IG, and Regional Police Officer of Sukkur Rao Khan Brohi are the potential candidates for the top post of the Sindh police in the new political setup,” said the source.

He said final comments on future developments could not be made but recent discussions among the PPP leadership and inputs from the police officers had indicated various decisions in the offing about postings and appointments of some of the officers.

The assessments almost matched with the comments of a senior PPP leader, who sounded determined to take up several tasks once his party forms a government and has overcome the challenge of nominating the future prime minister.

“We would obviously address these issues - mainly transfers, postings and appointments of people in recent days,” Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, the PPP's parliamentary leader nominated for the Sindh assembly told Dawn. “The government is operated through officers and it's almost impossible to run the machinery with incompetent and politically influenced people. So it would be one of our priorities.”

Regarding the recent appointments and postings in the Sindh police, the PPP leader hinted at setting up an independent inquiry commission comprising senior judges to look into their merits and take justified decisions.

“But for all such initiatives, there is a need to call an assembly session, which would determine our priorities and make us feel confident for the intended measures,” he added.

A large number of transfers and postings took place during the caretaker setup as dozens of officers took new charge on fresh orders from the IG office.

However, sources maintained that the future of those officers with the same post was uncertain as the new political administration was not likely to accept such changes just days ahead of its takeover.“The city (Karachi) police are also likely to go through some changes, as DIGs of zones and different branches may get replaced with new ones,” said the source. “Wasim Ahmed, currently serving as DIG Headquarters, senior officer Bashir Memon, who is currently waiting for a posting, and anti-corruption director A. D. Khwaja are likely to get places in the city police hierarchy.”

“The wave of change in the police setup is likely to trickle down to lower level, where SPs of different towns may get new positions after being transferred from the existing ones,” he said. “Currently serving as SPs of Malir, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Gadap, these officers are considered as politically influenced by the PPP leadership.”

Sources in both the Sindh police and the PPP, however, agreed that there would be countless transfers and postings at a much lower level, as several SHOs across the province would witness a major reshuffle.

“Senior officers currently in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Khairpur, Badin, Mirpur Khas, Nawabshah, Matiari, Tando Adam, Tando Muhammad Khan, Umer Kot and Kashmor may also be affected by such changes,” he added.