- Lawyers say they took principled stand against SSP Lanjar.
- Cop reassigned as personal staff officer to Sindh minister.
- Sindh Police announces multiple high-level officer transfers.
HYDERABAD: The Sindh government has transferred Hyderabad SSP Dr Farrukh Ali Lanjar, effectively resolving an ongoing dispute with lawyers.
The move was met with celebrations, as lawyers at the Hyderabad District Bar exchanged congratulations, raised slogans, and distributed sweets.
According to a notification issued on Friday by Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Dr Lanjar, a PSP (BS-19) officer, has been reassigned as the personal staff officer to the Sindh home minister.
Adeel Ahmed Chandio, also a PSP (BS-19) officer, who previously served as the home minister’s personal staff officer, has been appointed as the new SSP of Hyderabad — a decision made after mounting pressure from the legal community.
Addressing a joint press conference following the notification, Hyderabad High Court Bar President Ayaz Tanio and District Bar President Ashar Khokhar accused SSP Lanjar of attempting to create friction between institutions.
They claimed that lawyers had taken a principled stand demanding his removal.
The conflict between lawyers and the police began last month after a case was registered against a lawyer. In response, the legal fraternity launched a series of protests, including a sit-in on the Hyderabad-Karachi national highway from February 6-8 and a 12-day boycott of court proceedings.
Tensions briefly eased when SSP Lanjar went on an eight-day leave, but his return reignited anger among the lawyers, leading them to resume their protest.
On Wednesday, the All Sindh Lawyers’ Convention ended the court boycott but set a 48-hour deadline for the SSP’s transfer. With the Sindh government now meeting this demand, the boycott has officially been called off.
Meanwhile, the lawyers’ movement is set to continue, as thousands of lawyers are expected to march to the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi to protest against the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the construction of canals on the Indus River.
In related administrative reshuffling, Sindh Police also issued multiple transfer orders. SSP Salman Hussain has been reassigned from the driving licence branch to the motor transport department, while AIG Admin Ghulam Murtaza has been given additional responsibilities as AIG IT.
