Police work should be free of political interference: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed on Thursday that the police should be free of political interference.

He made the remarks while hearing the Sindh government's appeal against a Sindh High Court decision allowing the province's inspector general of police (IGP) AD Khawaja to continue on his post.

During the course of proceedings, the chief justice wondered why the Sindh government was worried regarding Khawaja’s appointment, as only a limited number of days were left in his tenure.

Farooq H Naek representing the provincial government declared in court that there was no worry regarding Khawaja's appointment.

Chief Justice Nisar responded that if there’s no worry, why the court does not adjourn the hearing for two years. Naek responded that the court may adjourn proceedings, but he is arguing about the law. He argued that the apex court cannot put conditions on the Parliament's right to legislate, saying Parliament has given the provincial government the authority to appoint officials.

The chief justice remarked that the police work should be free of political interference. The court cannot accept the removal of the IGP at any given time, he added.

He remarked that the bench would consider constituting a larger bench in order to determine the jurisdiction of the federal and provincial governments in a Supreme Court case regarding the posting of the Sindh police chief.

Farooq H. Naek argued that the high court's interference in the posting of the IGP was a violation of the 18th Amendment.

Naek said that keeping the provincial government from passing laws or orders is against the sanctity of the Parliament. The CJP responded that while the apex court accepts that the Parliament is supreme, it reserves the right to review the laws that have been passed.

Later hearing of the case was adjourned till March 7.