KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday rejected the Sindh government’s implementation report pertaining to the police rules and directed it to complete legislation in this regard within four weeks.
A two-member bench of the SHC headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard a contempt of court plea against Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah, previous Sindh chief secretary Rizwan Memon and Sindh police chief.
The bench rejected the report submitted by the Sindh government which said that it had formed a standing committee to constitute police rules.
The bench ordered the government to submit a report over the progress with regard to the police rules within two weeks.
‘’Contempt of court inquiry will be conducted if the court orders are not implemented,’’ the bench remarked.
Barrister Faisal Siddiqui, the petitioner’s counsel, said that the government was not able to formulate police rules even in one and a half years.
The counsel argued before the bench that the court had asked the Sindh government in a previous hearing to submit a report on work done so far on updating the police rules. ‘’Police rules have been forwarded for three times to the cabinet for approval,’’ he said.
Barrister Siddiqui said that the provincial government was blind, deaf and dumb and so it was not capable of doing anything. ‘’ This is a certificate of ineligibility for Sindh government, he said
The Rangers counsel submitted reply before the court, saying it was the responsibility of the Sindh government to formulate police reforms rules.
Additional Advocate-General Barrister Shaharyar Mahar told the court that the government has made a whole Police Act 2019 with the consultation of the IG Police Sindh.
The AAG Sindh pleaded to the court for giving more time so as the cabinet committee holds its meeting and forward the new set of police laws to the cabinet.
The bench ordered the government counsel to intimate the court about the committee’s proceedings and progress over the matter within two weeks.
The court adjourned the hearing until April 17.
Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Karamat Ali had argued in his petition that the SHC had ordered to make changes in laws and rules regulating the appointment and transfer period of officials in the police department. The petitioner had requested for contempt proceedings as the government had failed to comply with the orders.
