Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday restored AD Khawaja as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh by suspending the Sindh government's notification appointing Abdul Majeed Dasti as the acting IGP. The court authorised Khowaja to resume his duty and restricted the provincial government from taking any action in this regard.
During the hearing of the case, the court asked the advocate general (AG) under which law Khawaja was removed from his post. AG told the court that Sardar Abdul Majeed is senior than AD Khawaja whereas Sindh government has authority to give services of any officer to federation. The AG said the IGP had been appointed under Clause 3 of the Police Act, and that the Sindh government has the right to appoint an IGP of its own choice.
However, he was silent when asked if the provincial cabinet had been taken into confidence before the issuance of the notification for removal of Khawaja from his post. All governmental powers can only be exercised through the cabinet, the court reminded the AG. The provincial government had sent three names to federal government for IGP post and appointed Dasti as acting IGP Sindh without federal government's approval. Federal government dismissed all three proposed candidates, including Ghulam Qadir Thebu and Khadim Hussain. In December 2016, Khawaja was also sent on forced leave by the Sindh government, but the SHC ordered the provincial government to retain him as IGP Sindh.
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