KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday observed that the manner in which Sindh police conducted itself was unprofessional and reflected a lack of independence and autonomy in the force.

While disposing of a petition seeking details of cases against provincial president of the PakistanTehreek-i-Insaf Haleem Adil Sheikh, the SHC further said that a common man`s faith in the criminal justice system was at rock bottom and such conduct of police would further erode such confidence in the system.

The single-judge bench,headed by Justice Omar Sial, also directed the provincial police officer to ensure that the force he commanded always followed the law with complete independence and autonomy.

Hassan Adil Shaikh, son of the PTI leader, had petitioned the SHC in May, seeking directive for police to inform the court how many cases were registered against his father.

The bench in its order said that one could disagree with the political ideology of Mr Sheikh and the path he chose to appease his party and, perhaps, in a quest to gain prominence within the party and intentionally, resorted to a conduct which may very well be categorised as breach of penal code making him answerable on several counts, but being a citizen of Pakistan, he was entitled to the fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and the same could only be suspended in accordance with the Constitution and law.

After going through the history of such FIRs, the bench said it was evident that Mr Sheikh had a case to answer, but the manner and the timing of his arrests and re-arrests were unusual, to say the least.

`There are indications of a modus operandideployed by the Sindh police, the intent of which seems to be to keep Sheikh behind bars for as long as period as possible,` it added.

It also noted that for such reason, police had repeatedly arrested him after he had been admitted to bail and the cases in which his arrest was required, though known to police, were being disclosed in shifts to him.

`The manner in which the Sindh police has conducted itself is unprofessional and, if not malafide, certainly reflects a lack of independence and autonomy. The Sindh police must not forget that the common`s faith in the criminal justice system is at rock bottom, and such conduct from the Sindh police further erodes the common man`s confidence in the system`, the order said.

The detained PTI leader has been booked and arrested in all the FIRs against him and unless a law enforcement agency registers another case, there also seem to be no pending investigations in which he could be arrested,it added.

The bench deposed of the petition and said that the requisite information had been provided to the lawyer for petitioner and he had made no further prayer.