SHC extends stay order on IG Sindh AD Khawaja's case

KARACHI - The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday extended stay order IG Sindh AD Khawaja to continue his duties.

During the argument, Attorney General (AG) Sindh Zameer Ghumro stated that Sindh government was entirely authorised to appoint the IGP Sindh.

He added that no one is authorised to challenge the Police Act as per the constitution, which empowers the provincial governments to amend the act.

Challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case, the AG argued that if the federal government is not satisfied with the laws amended by the province, then it is not up to the Supreme Court and High Court to hear the case, adding that the matter should be sent to the Council of Common Interest.

The court questioned the AG Sindh about the action to be taken if a certain person is affected by a provincial law. The case has been adjourned until May 23.

On Wednesday, A.D Khawaja offered to surrender his post voluntarily on Wednesday following increase hostility from Sindh government.

In his response submitted before the Sindh high court pertaining to a case regarding his post, Khawaja wrote: “I can’t continue working, I am not being allowed to do my job. Since the past six months, it has become very difficult for me to work,” he added.

During yesterday's hearing, Khawaja’s counsel, Advocate Shahab Osto, appeared before the court on his behalf and submitted an application seeking the court’s order to allow the IGP to relinquish his charge.

Through his lawyer, Khawaja requested that his services be surrendered to the federal government.

The Sindh High Court that extended the stay order multiple times allowing Allah Dino Khawaja to continue serving as IGP did not accept his demand immediately and sought time for further deliberations.

The institutional ping-pong started when the Sindh government surrendered the services of Khawaja to the federal government in April and replaced Khawaja by appointing another grade-21 police officer Abdul Majeed as acting IG.

However, on April 3, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had suspended a notification issued by the Sindh government that replaced AD Khawaja with Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The police official (AD Khawaja) remained in the limelight ever since PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari decided to return home after ending self-exile in December last year.

AD Khawaja was reportedly sent on forced leave by the provincial government days before the arrival of Asif Ali Zardari.