Court orders govt to retain A.D. Khawaja as police chief

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday ordered the government not to remove Inspector General of Sindh Police A.D. Khawaja from his office, ARY News reported.

The court has directed the provincial government not to take any action till January 12.

The bench issued a stay order after preliminary hearing of the petitions challenging probable removal of A.D. Khawaja. The court also called replies from the federation, Sindh government and A.D. Khawaja by January 12.

The petitioners pleaded to the court that Khawaja has been sent on forced leave as he had insisted to work on merit. The provincial ministers’ statements also hint at probable removal of the police chief, petitioners said.

I.G. Police A.D. Khawaja went on leave on December 19 amid speculations about differences with the government, and Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mahar was given additional charge of the I.G. Sindh.

Some media reports also suggested that A.D. Khawaja has been sent on forced leave after his differences with powers to be.

Sindh Government, however, refuted the reports and claimed that the police chief went on leave on his own.