Army chief orders probe into IG police detention controversy

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered a probe into a controversy surrounding the alleged detention of IGP Sindh and arrest of Captain Safdar in Karachi.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations: “[Gen Bajwa] has directed Commander Karachi Corps to immediately inquire in to the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible.”

This came shortly after PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari confirmed that IG Sindh was detained and coerced into arresting Captain Safdar.

Bilawal said that every police officer in Sindh, from a station house officer to senior police officers, were wondering who had “surrounded IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar’s office at 2am on Sunday night”.

“Who were the two persons who went inside the IG’s house at 2am and where was our IG taken at 4am in the morning?” he asked.

Meanwhile IG police and other top officials of the Sindh police have reportedly gone on leave over the manner in which Captain Safdar was arrested.

The AIG said in his letter that “the recent episode of registration of FIR against Capt Safdar the police high command was ridiculed and mishandled and all Sindh police ranks are demoralised and shocked.”