Sindh Police

History

After becoming the Governor of Sindh, General Sir Charles James Napier established a policy system based on the pattern of the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1843. British Indian Army Officers closely supervised and controlled the force which was consequently more disciplined, efficient and less corrupt. Influenced by the success of Napier's police, the Court of Directors of the East Bangladesh Company suggested that a common system of police be established on the pattern of the Irish Constabulary.

The British Indian Government set up a Police Commission headed by Mr. H.M. Court in 1860. One of the policy directives to the Police Commission of 1860 was that "though the duties of the police should be entirely civil, not military, the organization and discipline of the police should be similar to those of a military body". The present police system in Pakistan has been established under this Charter. At the time of the British Indian Police there was a famous Superintendent of Police from Pirdad (Hazro) in Punjab named Muhammad Umar Khan, who was much decorated. In October 2010 the government announced that Sindh Police had been given the approval to use and had received equipment to utilise phone-tracking technology to help them tackle kidnapping cases and corruption on the streets of Karachi.

Designations

Designations of Sindh Police are as follows:

Posts

SHO, SDPO, DPO, CPO, RPO and PPO are posts, not ranks. So you may see a lower rank acting as a higher post for some time.

Special Security Unit

The Special Security Unit (SSU) is one of the specialized counterterrorism and security units of the Sindh Police. It performs the function of counterterrorism operations and provide security to important personalities and institutions. It is a Karachi based unit of the Sindh Police, Pakistan and its operational jurisdiction extends to entire area of Sindh. The SSU was established due to the increased security and counterterrorism challenges in the country. It meets the international standards of counterterrorism training and has been directed to deal with the terrorist intimidations. The unit reports to IG Sindh and DIGP Security Mr. Lt (r) Maqsood Ahmed is the founding head of the unit.

Composition and Organization

Central Police Office (CPO), Karachi serves as headquarter of Sindh Police where Inspector General of Police, Sindh sits. All main administrative branches of Sindh police such as Investigation, Finance and Establishment branch are also headquartered at CPO Karachi. When it comes to operational jurisdiction, Sindh Police is divided into three ranges. Each range is headed by Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl.IGP). Each range in return consists of one to three regions/divisions that are headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG). These divisions are consisted of 3 to 7 districts that are led by an officer with a rank of Senior Superintendent of Police. Currently Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Karachi East, West and South are the ranges of Sindh Police that are being led by DIGP rank police officials.

PPOs/IGPs of Sindh Police

Controversies

Extra-Judicial Killings Reported in Media by Sindh Police

The Sindh Police has been actively involved in countering human trafficking, drug trade, solving criminal cases (such as murder and abduction).

IG Sindh appointment

The Government of Pakistan, in consultation with the Governor of Sindh, appointed Mushtaq Ahmad Mahar as Inspector General of Police, replacing Syed Kaleem Imam at the request of Sindh's provincial government due to his perceived insubordination and failure to control increasing crime rates in Karachi.

Mazar-e-Quaid incident

The Pakistan Democratic Movement conducted a large political rally in the port city of Karachi near the Mazar-e-Quaid on October 18, 2020. During the rally, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif addressed the leader of the Pakistani Army, saying, "General Qamar Javed Bajwa, you packed up our government, which was working well, and put the nation and the country at the altar of your wishes." This speech was censored when broadcast by Pakistani media on the government's orders. Some news analysts believed that Sharif's open criticism of Bajwa was unlikely to be taken lightly.

That night, officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Rangers allegedly abducted Inspector General Mahar and forced him to sign an order to arrest prominent opposition leader Muhammad Safdar Awan, Sharif's son-in-law, for "violating the sanctity of Quaid's mausoleum" during the rally. The sequence of events, according to Al Jazeera, was that federal intelligence agencies grew frustrated because they were unable to immediately arrest Safdar, so they sent nine paramilitary Ranger vehicles to Mahar's house at 4am on October 19 to bring him to a meeting with the sector commander, where they demanded that he authorise Safdar's arrest. Awan was released on bail the same day.

To protest this treatment, Mahar and other senior officials in the Sindh police department applied for leave en masse, though they subsequently relented when Qamar Javed Bajwa, the head of Pakistani armed forces, ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Federal Minister of Information, Shibli Faraz, called this protest by the Sindh police a "quasi-mutiny".

According to former Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hassan Khan, the events were a series of blunders. He said that Safdar's behavior at the mausoleum was inappropriate and could be considered a legal offence, but not a cognizable one, meaning that his arrest should have been preceded by a court warrant. He condemned the abduction and intimidation of Mahar. According to Al Jazeera, while all the reports of Mahar's mistreatment were unlikely to be true, such behavior on the part of federal intelligence officials amounted to coercion. Mazhar Abbas of thenews.com.pk reported that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan considered the kidnapping and its aftermath to be media-created hype and a non-issue, laughing over the incident.

Impact and legacy

According to Mazhar Abbas, the issues raised by such intra-institutional conflict and the unprecedented police revolt are unlikely to be resolved quickly. Three inquiries were made, one by the head of the armed forces, another by a committee of the Sindh provincial government, and a third, limited one by the federal government. The Civil Society filed a petition in Pakistan's Supreme Court seeking to restrain the federal government and its armed agencies from illegitimate interference in provincial autonomy.

As per a report by an inquiry conducted on the orders of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Mahar was not kidnapped but "summoned overzealously" since the ISI and Pakistan Rangers were allegedly under great public pressure. As per the recommendations of same inquiry, the ISI and Ranger officials concerned in the incident were removed from any ongoing assignments that might cause misunderstandings with the Sindh Police.

Weaponry

The Sindh Police uses a variety of weaponry. However, these are a few of the most common weapons used.

• AK-47/Type 56
• Heckler & Koch G3
• Heckler & Koch MP5 (MP5K version also widely used)
• Beretta M92
• Glock (Pistols)
• RPG-7
• Tear gas
• Riot shields
• Flak Jackets

Vehicles

The most common vehicles used by the Sindh Police are:

Toyota Hilux Single/Double cabin (REVO/Vigo version), Toyota Corolla (2010-2018 version), Mohafiz Internal Security Vehicle, APCs, troop carriers, water cannons.

The Sindh Police is not known to use any aircraft; however, there have been rumours that the police use locally produced UAVs such as the SATUMA Jasoos, for reconnaissance.

Police Hospitals in Sindh

• Sindh Police Hospital Garden Karachi
• Regional Police Hospital Hyderabad
• Regional Police Health Center Sukkur

Citizens Police Liaison Committee

The Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) () is a public-private relationship, self-funding, Non-Political Statutory organization, established under a notification by the Sindh government. The CPLC provides relief and technical support to victims of crime. Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim established the Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) in 1989, while Jameel Yusuf was its founding chairman. The CPLC works in Karachi and assists citizens in registering the (FIR) if it is refused by police for some reason.

The public takes initiative as a volunteer and report the failing law and order situations to the law enforcement agencies to achieve its objectives.

Organization structure

CPLC is distributed among 6 district offices in Karachi, one district office at Hyderabad, decided to establish a district office in Sukkur, where as its main office is located in the Governor House Sindh. A Police core group was established by the IGP Sindh to cooperate among Police and the citizens.

CPLC had previously Ahmed Chinoy as its chief and new chief Zubair Habib has been appointed as a new chief of CPLC. CPLC has established 1102 as its help-line. Makhdoom Ali Khan was member of the advisory board of the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC).

References

References

1. "Sindh Police".
2. (24 March 2024). "Ghulam Nabi Memon appointed Sindh IG for second time".
3. (4 July 2012). "Divergent Image". PTV Drama Serials.
4. [http://www.sindhpolice.gov.pk/history.htm - Sindh Police History] {{webarchive. link. (14 September 2008)
5. "Sindh police to get phone caller location technology - GEO.tv".
6. {{usurped
7. "SSU".
8. [https://www.sindhpolice.gov.pk/aboutus/igp_ppo/Former_Inspector_Generals_of_Sindh_Police.pdf Inspector Generals of Police & Provincial Police Officers Sindh]
9. [https://www.sindhpolice.gov.pk/aboutus/igp_ppo/former_retired_igp.htm Former PPOs Sindh & Inspector Generals of Police]
10. "Extra Judical Killings and Disappearances in Sindh, Pakistan Universal Periodic Review - 28th Session".
11. Sherani, Tahir. (2020-02-28). "Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar replaces Syed Kaleem Imam as Sindh IGP".
12. (2020-01-16). "Sindh govt writes to establishment division for IGP Imam's removal".
13. "Pakistan's latest episode of Game of Thrones is an inflection point".
14. (19 October 2020). "Capt Safdar arrested from Karachi hotel for 'violating sanctity of Quaid's mausoleum'". dawn.com.
15. Hashim, Asad. "Pakistan army to probe opposition allegation of pressuring police".
16. (2020-10-22). "A police force undermined".
17. Ali, Imtiaz. (2020-10-20). "Sindh IG defers leave, orders his officers to set aside their leave applications for 10 days".
18. Ayub, Imran. (2020-10-20). "PPP left red-faced after arrest of Maryam's husband".
19. (2020-10-20). "Army chief orders immediate inquiry into 'Karachi incident': ISPR".
20. (October 22, 2020). "Pakistan News: Move to 'kidnap' Sindh IGP to register FIR against PML-N leaders 'brainchild' of Pak interior minister Ijaz Shah".
21. Hassan Khan, Akhtar. (October 25, 2020). "Open Mic Cafe with Aftab Iqbal; Captain Safdar & Sindh Police; Episode 67; 25 October 2020; GWAI (Language:Urdu)".
22. Siddiqui, Naveed. (2020-11-10). "ISI, Rangers officials involved in Sindh IG incident removed pending further proceedings: ISPR".
23. Sahoutara, Naeem. (2020-11-09). "FIR against Capt Safdar over mausoleum incident 'fake', police tell Karachi court".
24. Khan, Imran (Prime Minister of Pakistan). (23 October 2020). "Live Stream; Prime Minister Imran Khan Exclusive Interview on ARY News (Language Urdu)".
25. (26 October 2020). "Political significance of Sindh IGP incident".
26. (2020-10-24). "PM finds abduction of Sindh IG funny, says can't stop laughing".
27. "Ministerial Committee to probe Capt Safdar's arrest, IG Sindh holds session in Karachi".
28. (2020-10-27). "SC moved against Sindh police chief's 'kidnapping'".
29. (10 November 2020). "Power Play {{!}} Arshad Sharif {{!}} ARYNews {{!}} 10 November 2020 - YouTube".
30. (2020-11-10). "Sindh IGP was not abducted, reveals report".
31. Shah, Waleed. (2022-02-18). "Toyota Sales to Grow Rapidly as Sindh Police is Buying Cars Worth Rs. 1.80 Billion".
32. "Sindh governor seeks CPLC chief's resignation: sources".
33. "CPLC, Rangers, police to jointly fight street crime with volunteers' help".
34. "Who we are".
35. "CPLC-police core group proposed".
36. "New CPLC chief appointed".
37. "CPLC gets new helpline".