AD Khawaja to continue on IG Sindh post till verdict, orders Supreme Court

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered on Thursday that AD Khawaja will continue to perform his duties as Inspector General of Police and dismissed the federal and provincial government’s moves to replace him.

The apex court given the orders during the hearing of the Sindh government’s petition, in which it challenged the order of Sindh High Court (SHC) regarding continuing of AD Khawaja as chief of police in the Sindh province.

During the hearing of the provincial government’s appeal, the three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justices Umar Ata Bandiyal and Ijazul Ahsan, restrained the federal government from replacing Khawaja.

The court ruled that any move of the federal government to transfer the IG will have no effect.

The IG will also have complete authority to order transfers and postings in the province, the court observed.

Moreover, the bench ordered to uphold the SHC order.

On September 7 last year, the SHC had dismissed the provincial government’s order removing Khawaja and ordered that he complete his due term.

On October 30, 2017, Sindh government had challenged the SHC decision in the Supreme Court.

On January 10 this year, the federal cabinet approved the Sindh government’s request to post Sardar Abdul Majeed Dasti as the new IG, according to sources.

Since last year, the Sindh government has been attempting to replace Khawaja with an officer of ‘its choice’.