Govt may take issue of Sindh Police chief’s transfer to federal cabinet

The federal government has decided to take the issue of transfer of the Sindh Police inspector general to the cabinet. The issue surfaced after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Sheikh’s arrest in Karachi last week. 

After federal cabinet’s approval, the government will formally communicate to the Sindh government about Sindh Police Inspector General Mushtaq Mahar’s transfer. Mahar was appointed inspector general of the Sindh Police after approval from the federal cabinet. 

Sources in the Establishment Division say that federal government’s attempts to transfer Mahar would open a Pandora’s Box in the country. Certainly, the Sindh government would not relieve the Sindh police chief and the resulting tension between the federal government and the Sindh government would affect Sind Police’s morale. 

Sources say the Sindh Police have yet to come out of the shock it suffered after disappearance of the provincial police chief before PML-N leader Captain (R) Safdar’s arrest in Karachi a few months ago. 

Sources said that important decisions on this issue would be taken on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s return from Sri Lanka. The federal cabinet would also consult federal ministers from Sindh on this issue. Federal ministers Ali Zaidi and Faisal Vawda will also give their opinion on the issue.