The Sindh inspector general of police (IGP) has restricted the driving licence branches to deduct Rs 100 for the police hospitals fund from the driving licence fee, Pakistan Today has learnt.
IGP Wajid Ali Durrani issued this order because he is reluctant to hand over monetary matters to the home department, sources in the department claimed.
They said the IGP wants to continue using all the powers, including those concerning monetary matters, which the police department has been enjoying under the Police Ordinance 2000 for over a decade.
However, the police ordinance was recently repealed by the Sindh Assembly, and the older police act was introduced as a replacement, they added.
Sources said the funds that had been collected in the past year for the police hospitals of the province were being used by the police for their personal benefit.
For example, they said, instead of using the funds for the police hospitals, the authorities had been providing financial aid to their blue-eyed police officials for repair and construction of their houses.
Since last year, Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 have been collected for the hospitals fund, whose signatory are Welfare additional inspector general (AIG) and deputy inspector general, whereas the in-charges of police hospitals have no role in this matter, the sources added.
However, they went on to say, when the home department attempted to control the powers sanctioned under the police act, the police authorities imposed a restriction on collecting the fund.
Many attempts were made to contact Karachi Police Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Roshan Bhatti, but his stance on the issue could not be obtained.
However, Welfare AIG Ali Sher Jakhrani said this restriction is temporary, and after the abolishment of the police order, the powers of the IGP as the provincial government’s secretary are void.
Therefore, he said, for the clarification of the matter – if we are authorised to collect the funds – police authorities have written to the provincial home secretary for further instructions.
“When and if we receive the consent of the home secretary, the fund collection will be resumed,” he added.
He denied misappropriation of funds and said the funds have been used only for purchasing medical equipments for the police hospitals.
There is no dispute between the provincial police and the home department over any use of powers, he added.
