It seems the Supreme Court (SC) order regarding withdrawal of shoulder promotions of police officers will not bring about much change as the Sindh government has made arrangements to save ‘big fish’ for whom it inserted Section 9-A in the Sindh Civil Servant Act 1973 through an ordinance in 2002.
On the other hand, desperate police officers are thinking two options – either to quit police department or to go on long leaves. The provincial government has demoted some 59 police officers to their original ranks by withdrawing shoulder promotions on July 12 and sought some time to announce it decision for the remaining 12 police officers.
Declaring shoulder promotions as void, the SC ordered the provincial government to demote all those police officers in Sindh province who were awarded promotions to their original ranks. Following directives of the apex court, the Sindh government has started demotion campaign but the process stopped as the remaining 12 are those who always saved face of the Sindh government through their performance.
However, the Sindh government has decided to demote all the police officers but four of them would be placed on the top of seniority list, by bypassing many others, and would be awarded promotions soon after the demotion campaign will complete.
The four lucky police officers also include President Asif Ali Zardari’s friend Rao Anwar, who has been demoted to the rank of DSP. Rao Anwar has served as SP Malir and he was demoted to the rank of DSP along with 59 other police officers on July 13. He was placed on the top of seniority list for SP rank and would be promoted soon after the demotion process would fade into oblivion.
Crime Investigation Department (CID) Anti-Extremist Cell (AEC) chief SSP Chaudhry Aslam and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Chief SSP Farooq Awan were also placed on the top of seniority list. Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) chief SSP Niaz Khoso will also be promoted to the rank of SP soon after demotion process will get over.
“Had the Sindh government awarded shoulder promotions to deserving police officers only, we would not have seen this day,” SSP Raja Umar Khitab said. “No doubt the Sindh government started awarding shoulder promotions with good faith but later it also included some opportunists,” the SSP added.
“We have only two options – either to quit the police department or to go on long leaves,” Khitab said, adding “We have arrested terrorists and busted many gangs but now they are determined to avenge on us.”
“Soon after the Sindh government issued my demotion orders, I received a phone call directing me to withdraw security immediately,” Khurram Waris, who has been demoted to the rank of Inspector from SP few days back, said.
“A lobby is working in the police department which does not want to see us on important slots,” Waris said. “We have got promotions by showing our performance but these incompetent persons are conspiring against us instead of lauding our achievements. Some of us have decided to file a review petition against the order of Supreme Court,” Waris said. “If all the demoted officers decide to resign, I will resign as well,” the disappointed policeman said.