KARACHI: A local jirga has imposed hefty fines on Sindh police officials found guilty of the killing of activist Saddam Lashari in what was deemed a “fake encounter”.
The illicit jirga, led by Lak Bijarani and Sardar Zulfikar Sarki, determined that the Jacobabad police were responsible for the activist’s death in a staged police encounter. They imposed a fine of Rs20.2 million on the involved police personnel, as per sources.
Saddam Lashari met his demise in an alleged police encounter in Thul town, Jacobabad district, Sindh.
The jirga’s ruling directed two Station House Officers (SHOs) and four policemen to compensate Saddam Lashari’s family with Rs 20.2 million in fines.
Following the jirga’s decision, the police officials paid Rs1 million, while each policeman is obliged to pay Rs1 million to the victim’s family monthly.
Meanwhile, due to concerns over the law and order situation, particularly street crime, the Sindh government has transferred Karachi’s police chief, Khadim Hussain Rind, assigning his responsibilities temporarily to Imran Yaqoob Minhas of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
This development occurred on Saturday when the Sindh Services, General Administration & Coordination Department issued transfer orders for Karachi Addl IGP Rind.
The order states: “Khadim Hussain Rind, an officer of PSP (BS-21), Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Range, is transferred and posted with immediate effect and until further orders as Additional Inspector General of Police (Operations), Sindh, Karachi, relieving Muzaffar Ali Shaikh, an officer of PSP (BS-21), Additional Inspector General of Police (Finance, Logistics and Welfare), CPO, Sindh, Karachi, of the additional charge.
“Additionally, Addl IG Imran Yaqoob Minhas, an officer of PSP (BS-21), Additional Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Sindh, Karachi, is assigned to hold additional charge of the post of Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Range, in addition to his own duties until further orders.”
Officials mentioned that the selection for the city police chief’s position is pending. They noted that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concern over the situation, especially rising street crime in Karachi.
In various meetings, he has extensively discussed the city’s situation, they added, and now several names have been proposed to the Sindh government for finalization as the city police chief. Their priority would be to devise strategies to curb street crime.
Furthermore, several appointments and postings have been made within the police department to streamline operations and management.
