The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh, Allah Dino Khawaja, was sent on forced leaves Monday for failing to honour the 'bargains' he had committed to the provincial government for the top post, officials close to the development said. Sindh Government's notification that Khwaja departed on 'leave' raised question whether targeted operation against the outlaws in Karachi would be continued or not. Officials say the IG Sindh Police's departure on leave was part of the political 'manoeuvring' of the Sindh government.
"It was difficult for Khawaja to honour his pre-posting commitments that he made to the PPP-led government," an official, who wished not to be identified, disclosed to the Business Recorder. Another official said that the government had not needed his services on the top police slot anymore hence 'granted' him leave.
Immediately, the Sindh government handed an additional charge to Karachi Police Chief, Mushtaq Mahar, to oversee the day-to-day business till a full-fledged IG assumes charge. Officials said that Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti, Iqbal Mehmood, Ghulam Qadir Thebo and Mushtaq Mahar were in line for the vacant position of IGP Sindh. Insiders also revealed that the government had differences with Khwaja on the transfers and postings of police officials. The dispute grew to the extent that made the PPP government to ask him to leave. Officials said that the establishment division was expected to send Khawaja back to the federal bureaucracy within a couple of weeks. He was on leave for 15 days.
Abdul Majeed Dasti, waiting for the posting at the establishment division; Iqbal Mehmood, presently chief of Police Foundation and Ghulam Qadir Thebo, chairman of Anti-Corruption Department are tipped as the possible replacement alongside acting IGP, Mushtaq Mahar.
The notification granted IGP Sindh 12-day casual leave with effect from 19-12-2016 to 30-12-2016, on private affairs and 3-day leave to visit UAE, on private affairs with effect from 31-12-2016, subject to title and with the condition that he was not named in the exit control list and that he was not required by any court of law.
Political analysts inferred that the government wanted to make it clear that Khwaja desist from comments on his 'forced' leave. Khawaja was not available for comments. According to the police officials Khawaja had outrightly refused to follow the directives of the PPP's leaders and asked them to let him work as per the official guidelines of the state. They said that the PPP leaders had wanted Khawaja to facilitate sugarcane supplies to a certain mills in the province against the will of growers, which he had refused to do.
His refusal, according to the officials, annoyed bigwig of the PPP who reportedly summoned Sindh chief minister to Dubai to discuss the issue. PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had objected to the Sindh government's abrupt move aimed at Khwaja's removal as he was keen to let him serve as per the state guidelines.
The PPP central leadership had intended to get rid of Khawaja much earlier but former Corps Commander Karachi, Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar and DG Rangers Sindh Lieutenant General Bilal Akbar opposed insisting that the police had improved its performance under his command, according to the police officials.
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