Khairpur ASP welcomed by large crowds on cancellation of posting

SUKKUR: The denizens of Khairpur, including political workers of even the ruling party, held a seven-hour reception to welcome a three-member team of the Khairpur Police including ASP City Masood Bangash.
The ASP was returning to Khairpur after the cancellation of his latest transfer order. Earlier too, the Sindh government had ordered his transfer from Khairpur but upon protests held by the area’s residents, withdrew the order. After a fortnight, the Sindh government attempted to transfer Bangash again but residents, including civil society, traders and PML-F and PML-N activists, took to the roads and demanded his reinstatement. Significantly, SSP Nasir Aftab and SP Sajid Khokhar also refused to serve in the area until Bangash was reinstated.
According to the protesting residents, Bangash, SSP Khairpur Nasir Aftab Pathan and Additional SP Khairpur at Thari Mirwah Sajid Khokhar helped restore peace to Khairpur district by eliminating kidnappings for ransom and highway robberies within a three-month period. At the time of their appointment, kidnappings were rife in Khairpur and few had any hopes from the new appointees. However, say these residents, those three months witnessed the killing of at least 30 most-wanted criminals who carried head money, the injuring of over 100 other criminals and surrender of more than 80 notorious criminals.
The involvement of political activists across party lines in the protests is being taken by some as evidence of the depoliticisation of the police in the area. “We have witnessed a time when eight SSPs were transferred to Khairpur over the period of a month,” said one protester. “We are not interested in whether the transfer of the ASP is politically motivated or not, whether he is appointed with the blessings of [provincial minister] Manzoor Wasan or [Sindh Chief Minister] Syed Qaim Ali Shah.”
Some protesters also spoke out against a power-sharing formula purportedly devised by PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, whereby the SSP is to be appointed by Wasan House and the DC by the Jillani house Khairpur. “All we’re interested in are policemen who are committed to serving the people, not politicians,” said a protester. The ouster of the three police officers was also criticized by Prince Mir Mahadi Raza Talpur, who is the son of former Khairpur ruler Mir Ali Nawaz Talpur, as well as Anjuman-e-Tajiran Khairpur patron Syed Sajid Hussain and ex-MPA Imtiaz Hussain Phulpoto.
The issue further provoked a war of words between Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan and PML-F Nusrat Sahar Abbasi in the Sindh Assembly. Questioning the provincial government’s commitment to restoring law and order, Abbasi pointed out the practice of transferring even those police officers who are recognized as having performed well.
Interestingly enough, this is the second time in 30 years Khairpur has demonstrated in favour of its police officers; the last time its residents took to the roads was for SSP Bashir Ahmed Memon and Deputy Commissioner Younis Dagha.