Civil society terms amendment in Police Act 'deliberate and malicious'

Civil Society on Wednesday severely criticized Sindh (Repeal of Police Act 1861 and Revival of Police Order 2002) Amendment Act 2019 and termed it a "deliberate and malicious act" on part of provincial government to interfere in transfers, postings, tenure and accountability of police.

Members of Civil Society filed a constitutional petition in Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking to maintain original spirit of the Police Order 2002 as well as the security of tenure of Police Officers is guaranteed, that powers of transfers and posting are vested in the officer of the IGP, that the Police operates without fear of any undue political pressure or influence and at the same time remains accountable to public scrutiny through an Independent Public Safety Commission and Police Complaints Authority strictly in terms of established laws and rules to avoid any abuse or transgression of Power.

This was stated by members of Civil Society and petitioners including Jameel Yousaf, former Chairman Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), Jibran Nasir, Khatib Ahmed and others at a press conference at Karachi Press Club.

Jameel Yousaf said that the revived police law in province directly interferes in the internal administrations of police by including role of Chief Minister in transfer/posting of senior officers in Sindh police, taking away the security of tenure granted to IGP by vesting discretionary, political and bureaucratic arbitrary authority to the provincial government for sending IGP back to the federal government and bureaucracy interference into the operational and investigation function of police.

"The revised law is a clear attempt to politicise the police, which would adversely affect the operational performance of Sindh Police," he noted.

As regards to accountability of Police, Jameel stated that it has been the long standing demand of all stakeholders genuinely interested in making policing transparent and accountable to revive Police Order 2002 which provided two separate mechanisms (1) Public Safety Commission and (2) Police Complaints Authority.

However, in the name of reviving the Police Order 2002 the Government of Sindh passed Sindh (Repeal of Police Act 1861 and Revival of Police Order 2002) Amendment Act 2019 which is a blatant perversion of the Police Order 2002.

It is pertinent to note that the Governor of Sindh did not give his consent to the said law and the Sindh Government enforced it based on a technicality, he pointed out.

Jibran Nasir said that Government of Sindh dented the intent behind forming Public Safety Commission by appointing MPA Sharjeel Inam Memon as a member of the Commission through its notification dated 11th September 2019, knowing very well that various corruption references and inquiries are pending against the said MPA.

He hoped that elected government would reflect on its own actions and will amend its course working to gain public trust as opposed to carrying on with questionable steps.