There is a substance in the allegation of the MQM that SP Police(Malir) Rao Anwar is the blue-eyed boy of those who matter in the PPP and that is the precise reason why is he so dare-devil and cares two hoots for his superiors in police hierarchy of Karachi. He has even had the audacity to openly say before the media that his suspension order issued by the CM Sindh is going to have many side effects.
This is one side of the story. Imran Khan had also a point there when he posed the question as to why did the PM pressurise CM Sindh to suspend him for arresting Khawaja Izhar ul Hasan? The reports that the Americans too are interceding on behalf of the MQM and they have been telling the PM to go slow in action against the MQM.
In the not-too-distant past, it was the home secretary of the province who used to issue a press note in case any untoward law and order incident occurred any where in the province and no body else , least any policeman, had any right to make any statement or address any press conference in the matter. The press conference of SP Malir on the arrest of a MQM MPA, was, therefore , something unheard of. Even if there was any genuine criminal case against the said MPA in which his arrest was essential the matter should not have been mishandled which has made the alleged accused an hero. There were better ways available for his arrest. His arrest created a very embarrassing situation for the Sindh’s political government which had to release him withing hours after his arrest. Rao Anwar seems to be a whimsical creature who believes more in brawns than brain. He is prone to dramatising situations for getting publicity in the Fourth Estate. He had been transferred in the past also for such peccadilloes but since he seems to have connections in the right places he often succeeded in reversing his transfer orders. Whether he is going to get back to a lucrative job would be known before long.
It is Sindh’s tragedy that its police has been massively politicised by successive governments in the province over the past three decades. How should it be depoliticized now is a question which no body can answer. Should it be disbanded altogether and instead a brand new police structure be put in its place? If so, how? Karachi’s law and order can only be revived, provided a police force is put in place recruited on merit and merit only rather than on recommendatory chits of politicians.