ISLAMABAD, 25 Dec /DNA/ – In-charge central election monitoring cell of Pakistan Peoples Party, Taj Haider in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner has said that the permission of reshuffling of senior police officers in Sindh is in violation of the section 230 (f) of the Election Act 2017. He wrote that there was no obvious reason or any kind of emergency or expediency which may have warranted the wholesale transfer of senior police officers.
Haider further informed the CEC about the former DG FIA who is now the provincial president of PML-N Sindh against whom the PPP had complained in its Report submitted to Hon’ble Commission of massive rigging in General Election 2018. The fresh posting of SP District Matiari is especially significant, because it was in this district the Ex DG FIA while in uniform had been accused of using his influence to change results. It is obvious that the retired DG FIA, now the PML (N) president is using his old connections and influence to effect fresh illegal and unlawful postings. The concurrence of Hon’ble Election Commission to the illegal and unlawful request is simply not understood.
Following is the full text of the letter:
“SUBJECT: PERMISSION OF RESHUFFLING OF POLICE OFFICERS IN SINDH.
We have the honour to submit that a very unfortunate exception and precedent has been created through the grant of permission by the Hon’ble Commission on 23rd December 2023 to a request dated 20th December 2023 of the Government of Sindh to reshuffle eight senior police officials, which is illegal and unlawful under section 230 (f) of the Election Act 2017. A copy of the Commission’s permission is attached herewith for ready reference.
Seven of the eight police officers who were earlier posted on the senior ranks of SP and SSP in districts have been ordered to report to the CPO, while one earlier posted as SSP in District Kashmore has been transferred. In their place eight other police officers are being posted in these districts.
There certainly is no obvious reason or any kind of emergency or expediency which may have warranted the wholesale transfer of the senior police officials. The only reason that appears to us is that these postings have been requested by the concerned department of Government of Sindh in order to exert pressures on our voters and to try to rig the elections through police interference.
Your Honour may kindly note that a retired DG FIA against whom we had complained in our Report submitted to Hon’ble Commission of massive rigging in GE 2018 is now the provincial president of PML (N) in Sindh. The fresh posting of SP District Matiari is especially significant, because it was in this district the Ex DG FIA while in uniform had been accused of using his influence to change results.
The mala fide intent of the request made by the S&GA Department of government of Sindh is crystal clear. It is obvious that the retired DG FIA, now the PML (N) president is using his old connections and influence to effect fresh illegal and unlawful postings. The concurrence of Hon’ble Election Commission to the illegal and unlawful request is simply not understood.
Your good self is requested to review your permission letter and kindly order its cancellation.”
