HYDERABAD: The legal fraternity of Hyderabad ended its four-day sit-in at Bypass here on Saturday after DIG Tariq Razag Dharejo late on Friday night granted leave to SSP Dr Farrukh Ali, whose removal was being demanded by agitating lawyers.

The Sindh police, on the other hand, have formally requested the Home Department to request the Sindh High Court to form a judicial inquiry into the matter of police action againstan advocate.

The DIG granted leave to the SSP `on account of private affairs`. Neither the days nor the period of leave is mentioned in the leave grant letter but he has been asked to leave the headquarters.

The SSP of Tando Mohammad Khan has been given additional charge of Hyderabad district.

Dr Farrukh Ali is senior most SSP of Sindh police and was awaiting promotion in BS-20.

The federal government`s selection board is not yet held to finalise promotion cases. He has become the first SSP who has to proceed on leave under an understanding between the Sindh police/government and Bar leaders that he would proceed on leave to end the lawyers` agitation. But he was neither formally transferred nor suspended as was otherwise demanded by agitating lawyers.

IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon acceded to theproposal of sending the SSP on leave. The proposal had come from High Court Bar Association (HCBA) Hyderabad President Ayaz Tunio.

The lawyers side had made it clear that they would not end the sit-in, started on Thursday, unless the SSP was transferred.

Police seek judicial probe AIG (legal) Adil Memon had on Friday requested the additional chief secretary (home) to order a judicial inquiry into the police action against Advocate Ali Raza Bozdar. The AIG said that police had launched a campaign against fancy/fake number plates, hooters, police lights and vehicles bearing tinted glasses following terrorism threats.

He mentioned that on Feb 3, Hyderabad police stopped a Mehran car in the area of Bhitai Nagar police station which had a green number plate and black tinted glasses. Upon inquiry, occupant failed to provide satisfactory response, leading to legal action as per prevailing laws and procedures. He said that the action led to protests by lawyers, who blocked Hyderabad Bypass demanding transfer of the SSP. He urged ACS (home) to request the Sindh High Court for setting up a judicial inquiry for formulation of a suitable framework to address such matters in future.

On his part, SSP Dr Farrukh Ali said that it was his voluntary act to proceed on leave `to defuse prevailing situation` arising out of the Feb 3 registration of FIR against a lawyer. `I will join proceedings of judicial commission[as requested by Sindh police through home department] and record my statement before it, once it is formed`, he told Dawn on Saturday evening overphone before leaving.

HCBA President Ayaz Tunio said: `Lawyers will accept findings of the judicial commission regarding the whole issue`.

The protest was led by Ayaz Tunio, along with Faisal Mughal, Sajjad Chandio and K.B.

Leghari.

`We as members of the bar are of considered opinion that this officer is not capable to head district as important as Hyderabad.

SSP`s contradictory statements are evident in this issue which indicates police`s mala fide.

In the FIR against lawyer, police said occupant escaped while in his news television interview SSP Dr Farrukh conceded that the lawyer was detained and then allowed to go.

SSP even hinted of taking on protesting lawyers which shows lack of professional expertise and awareness about relevant rules to handle such situation`, argued Sajjad Chandio.

On Feb 4, the agitating lawyers had barged into SSP` office following registration of FIR against the lawyer. They dispersed only when the DIG met them in the wee hours of Wednesday, promising to visit the Bar on Thursday. He did not visit the Bar on the ground that lawyers had asked him to bring the SSP`s transfer order for which he expressed his inability, prompting lawyers to resume their sit-in and block the Bypass.