The Supreme Court on Thursday directed A.D. Khawaja to continue functioning in his capacity as the provincial police chief while also accepting the Sindh Government’s appeal challenging a similar ruling by the Sindh High Court.
In September 2017 ─ months after the Sindh Government withdrew the officer’s powers to decide the transfers and postings of senior police officials in the province ─ the Sindh High Court had ordered Khawaja to continue working as the inspector general of police.
A month later, the Sindh government had challenged the SHC’s ruling in the Supreme Court. In its petition, the provincial government had maintained that services of an inspector general of police (IGP) are offered to the province on the will of the provincial governments.
Accepting the petition for hearing on Thursday, the apex court ruled that Khawaja would not be removed from his post even if the federal government consents to it.
“Any steps taken by the federal government regarding the appointment of the inspector general of police Sindh will not have any importance,” Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said during the hearing, adding that Khawaja would keep his post until the trial concludes.
“The appointment of Sindh IGP is conditional to the ruling of the Supreme Court.”
The lawyer representing Sindh government told the court that the SHC had declared the Police Act 2011 as constitutional.
“The SHC also gave A.D. Khawaja the powers to decide transfer of police officers,” argued the lawyer.
“The Sindh High Court has given a very beautiful order,” the chief justice said. “It is worth reading two, three times.”
