Sindh govt will not consult governor on IG issue: Wahab

KARACHI: Spokesperson for the Sindh government Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Wednesday said certain opposition parties were exploiting the controversy over removal of inspector general of Sindh police to their own advantage instead of following the Constitution in this matter.

“IGP Kaleem Imam has himself become controversial, who in clear violation of the service rules has got himself involved in politics,” said Barrister Wahab, also adviser to the CM on law, environment and coastal development, while speaking at a press conference at the Sindh Assembly building.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its partner in the centre, the Grand Democratic Alliance, were doing politics on the issue of the IGP’s removal. “They are busy in rhetoric,” said Mr Wahab.

He said the Sindh government had made no contact with the Sindh governor to discuss the issue.

He added that during a recent meeting between the prime minister and the Sindh chief minister an agreement had been reached on the name of the new IGP and the provincial government would follow the same agreement.

He added that it was the provincial government which was bound to maintain law and order in the province and it should have the authority to form its own team to maintain peace.

He said the matter regarding removal of the IGP had been brought to the provincial cabinet and the media was duly briefed on it after the CM had taken the PM in confidence in their meetings and telephonic communications between them.

Mr Wahab said Sindh had sent three names for new IGP to Islamabad to choose from them. After that the federal government asked for another two names, the provincial government sent another two names, yet, no decision had been taken on it.

He said Sindh was communicated by Islamabad that the PM was in Davos and the matter would be decided after his return. However, CM Shah held a meeting with PM Imran Khan during the latter’s recent visit to Karachi and the two had agreed on one of the five names.

The next day the notification was supposed to be issued by the federal government, but the media reported that the PTI’s allies had objected on the names.

“And what is more astonishing, and rather disgusting, is that the IGP made statements himself in which he claims he is going nowhere amid certain ‘unfounded conspiracies’ against him. Another surprise comes when the federal cabinet makes a decision on the issue as well.”

Barrister Wahab referred to the Police Act, according to which consultation on the posting of the IGP should be made between the federal and the provincial governments, and not with the governor.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Saeed Ghani echoed Mr Wahab’s assertion when he said while speaking to journalists that “it is illegal to consult with the governor of Sindh on the appointment of IGP, because governor has nothing to do with this appointment”.