Fawad Chaudhry accuses PPP of orchestrating Sindh police protest

ISLAMABAD: Federal Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry has accused PPP leadership of orchestrating a protest by the Sindh police against the alleged abduction of provincial police chief prior to registration of an FIR against Captain Safdar.

“There is no doubt that the Sindh police officers went on leave at the behest of Bilawal House, otherwise there would have been such a reaction even when they were lined up in front of the Omni people. Attempts and conspiracies to degrade institutions will have to be thwarted,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

The row began when Sindh police broke into Maryam Nawaz’ hotel room and arrested Captain Safdar on charges of chanting slogans at the shrine of Quaid-e-Azam ahead of their participation in an anti-government rally staged by the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

While the Sindh government distanced itself from the arrest, former governor Zubair Umar alleged that IG Sindh police was abducted, taken to Sector Commander’s office and forced to register the FIR against Captain Safdar.

Police initially refuted the allegations, saying the FIR was lodged in accordance with the law.  However, on Tuesday, IG Sindh and scores of other officers went on leave in protest against the incident.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto visited the IG office and expressed solidarity with the civil law enforcement agency.

In a statement late Tuesday night, IG Sindh  decided to defer his own leave and ordered his officers to set aside their leave applications for ten days in the larger national interest, pending the conclusion of the inquiry ordered by the army chief. 

“We expect that justice will be done to Sindh Police in the coming days so that morale and administrative autonomy of police may be reinforced for all times to come.”

“Sindh police has always been a disciplined force which believes in institutional harmony between all key national institutions and has always been cognisant of its responsibility to serve and protect the citizens of this province and thus, keeping this in mind,” it said,

Sindh police is immensely grateful to the Army Chief for realising the sense of hurt that prevailed within a uniformed force, and for promptly ordering an inquiry into the matter, which he has also assured will be impartial in order to restore the prestige of Sindh police. Sindh Police is also grateful to the chairman of the PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the honourable CM Sindh for coming to the IG House and showing solidarity with the police leadership.