02:18
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ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wants sacking of two senior police officials, who had acted as silent spectators inside a polling station while a PPP candidate Ms Waheeda Shah had unleashed violence on two female polling staffers during bye-election in February this year.
The matter will be put before the Election Commission here during its November 12-13 meeting, besides other key issues, including consideration of action against the over 200 legislators, who failed to submit fresh affidavits on their nationality within one month given to them.
DSP Allah Bachayo Noohopoto is just under suspension while services of Syed Irfan Ali Shah, then Inspector, were terminated briefly but he was reinstated on his request. However, investigation against the two is still underway even after the passage of eight months.
ECP Additional Secretary Muhammad Afzal Khan, when approached on telephone, confirmed to ‘The News’ that the electoral body wanted the police to make them an example for others, as they failed to do their official duty when a candidate obstructed the polling officials from performing their duty and slapped them in their presence.
“There is no need for investigation, as the disgusting happening’s video is available, which clearly shows the two police officials let the PPP candidate slap the polling staffers and they did not bother to stop her from doing so,” he maintained.
He pointed out the message from the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim was loud and clear after he recently upheld an earlier judgement of the Election Commission, which declared the PS-53 poll result null and void and disqualified Waheeda Shah for two years.
The Sindh Police Department apparently is not serious in punishing the erring DSP Bachayo (Tando Ghulam Haider) and Inspector Irfan (Tando Muhammad Khan), as even after the passage of eight months following the slapping of polling officials, including Habiba Memon, investigation against the two is still continuing.
The Election Commission wrote three letters to the inspector general of police Sindh, asking for strict action against the DSP and Inspector, but as has happened in the past in cases of high-handedness and police negligence, the department ostensibly is no mood to punish them.
The response by DIG Dr Muhammad Amin Yousafzai on behalf of IGP Sindh, to the third letter of ECP, a copy of which is available with this correspondent, gives the impression that a conscious effort is being made to save the two officials by resorting to delaying tactics.
The DIG said that Bachayo and Irfan were placed under suspension after the incident. The matter regarding further departmental action against Bachayo was referred to the secretary home department and inquiry was held by DIGP Mirpurkhas Range against the two and he submitted his findings on March 19.
The probe report was also forwarded to additional chief secretary. The DSP is still under suspension and no final departmental action had been taken against him. However, his application for re-instatement had recently been received from the Home Department, Sindh.
As for departmental action against the Inspector was concerned, he was dismissed from service but reinstated after he submitted an appeal. He was reinstated on the ground that proper probe was not conducted into the incident.
When asked for his reaction to the latest police reply to their letter, the ECP additional secretary said it was simply irritating as to why the police resorted to dilly-dallying on the issue. “But the Election Commission i.e. the chief election commissioner and its four members and Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan are determined that the police officials should be awarded exemplary punishment,” he said.
Afzal Khan made it clear that if the police officials were to behave this way, no guarantee of smooth, orderly and peaceful polls could be given, whereas the chief election commissioner had repeatedly expressed his resolve to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said the polling staff and the police and other security personnel to be deployed during polling would be given special training about their duty. He added the polling staff would be sensitized how crucial it would be for them to exercise the powers given to them with regard to the elections.
To a question, he asserted the Election Commission would encourage the presiding officers to exercise their magisterial powers. He noted in the upcoming elections, the police or candidates would not be allowed to enter polling stations unless called for or permitted by the polling staff.
He maintained the code of conduct, thrashed out after interactions with the stake-holders would be implemented in letter and spirit.
The matter will be put before the Election Commission here during its November 12-13 meeting, besides other key issues, including consideration of action against the over 200 legislators, who failed to submit fresh affidavits on their nationality within one month given to them.
DSP Allah Bachayo Noohopoto is just under suspension while services of Syed Irfan Ali Shah, then Inspector, were terminated briefly but he was reinstated on his request. However, investigation against the two is still underway even after the passage of eight months.
ECP Additional Secretary Muhammad Afzal Khan, when approached on telephone, confirmed to ‘The News’ that the electoral body wanted the police to make them an example for others, as they failed to do their official duty when a candidate obstructed the polling officials from performing their duty and slapped them in their presence.
“There is no need for investigation, as the disgusting happening’s video is available, which clearly shows the two police officials let the PPP candidate slap the polling staffers and they did not bother to stop her from doing so,” he maintained.
He pointed out the message from the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim was loud and clear after he recently upheld an earlier judgement of the Election Commission, which declared the PS-53 poll result null and void and disqualified Waheeda Shah for two years.
The Sindh Police Department apparently is not serious in punishing the erring DSP Bachayo (Tando Ghulam Haider) and Inspector Irfan (Tando Muhammad Khan), as even after the passage of eight months following the slapping of polling officials, including Habiba Memon, investigation against the two is still continuing.
The Election Commission wrote three letters to the inspector general of police Sindh, asking for strict action against the DSP and Inspector, but as has happened in the past in cases of high-handedness and police negligence, the department ostensibly is no mood to punish them.
The response by DIG Dr Muhammad Amin Yousafzai on behalf of IGP Sindh, to the third letter of ECP, a copy of which is available with this correspondent, gives the impression that a conscious effort is being made to save the two officials by resorting to delaying tactics.
The DIG said that Bachayo and Irfan were placed under suspension after the incident. The matter regarding further departmental action against Bachayo was referred to the secretary home department and inquiry was held by DIGP Mirpurkhas Range against the two and he submitted his findings on March 19.
The probe report was also forwarded to additional chief secretary. The DSP is still under suspension and no final departmental action had been taken against him. However, his application for re-instatement had recently been received from the Home Department, Sindh.
As for departmental action against the Inspector was concerned, he was dismissed from service but reinstated after he submitted an appeal. He was reinstated on the ground that proper probe was not conducted into the incident.
When asked for his reaction to the latest police reply to their letter, the ECP additional secretary said it was simply irritating as to why the police resorted to dilly-dallying on the issue. “But the Election Commission i.e. the chief election commissioner and its four members and Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan are determined that the police officials should be awarded exemplary punishment,” he said.
Afzal Khan made it clear that if the police officials were to behave this way, no guarantee of smooth, orderly and peaceful polls could be given, whereas the chief election commissioner had repeatedly expressed his resolve to ensure free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said the polling staff and the police and other security personnel to be deployed during polling would be given special training about their duty. He added the polling staff would be sensitized how crucial it would be for them to exercise the powers given to them with regard to the elections.
To a question, he asserted the Election Commission would encourage the presiding officers to exercise their magisterial powers. He noted in the upcoming elections, the police or candidates would not be allowed to enter polling stations unless called for or permitted by the polling staff.
He maintained the code of conduct, thrashed out after interactions with the stake-holders would be implemented in letter and spirit.
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