Karachi, Senator Taj Haider, responsible for the Central Election Monitoring Cell of the Pakistan People’s Party, has addressed a critical issue to the Chief Election Commission regarding the recent transfer of police officers in Sindh. This matter is stirring concerns about potential violations of the Election Act 2017.
According to Pakistan People’s Party, Senator Haider’s letter, dated December 25, 2023, highlights the transfer of eight senior police officers by the Sindh government on December 20, 2023. He contends that these transfers contravene section 230 (f) of the Election Act 2017. The letter specifies that seven of these officers, previously serving as Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in various districts, were ordered to report to Central Police Offices (CPOs), while the SSP of Kashmore district was replaced.
Senator Haider argues that there is no apparent emergency or necessity justifying this widespread reshuffling of top police officials. He raises suspicions that these changes were orchestrated by the Sindh government’s concerned department to influence voter behavior and potentially rig the elections through police intervention.
Furthermore, the letter points out the significant appointment of a new SP in the Matiari district. This posting is deemed particularly important because the district’s former Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (DG FIA), now serving as the provincial president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Sindh, was previously accused of manipulating election results. Senator Haider expresses concern that the retired DG FIA is utilizing his former connections to facilitate these new, allegedly illegal postings.
The PPP views the Election Commission’s consent to these postings as baffling and contrary to the principles of fair electoral conduct. Senator Haider urges the Chief Election Commissioner to reconsider and revoke the authorization of these transfers to maintain the integrity of the election process.