Abbreviation SP Formed 1843 | Motto Striving to Serve Employees 105,234 | |
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Legal personality Governmental: Government agency | ||
The Sindh Police (Sindhi: سنڌ پوليس, Urdu: سنده پولیس) is a Law enforcement agency established in 1843 under proclamation issued by Sir Charles Naipiar, who became the conqueror of the State of Sindh by defeating the forces of Talpur rules at battle of Miyani near Hyderabad on 20 March 1943. This was the first ever Police force established in the Indian subcontinent. Ever since its inception, the organization raised on the model of Irish Constabulary to maintain law and order and law enforcement in Sindh, Pakistan. The department serves an area of ~140,914 km2., and has about ~105,234 police officers and staff to served in the department. As of current, Allah Dino (AD) Khawaja is the current Inspector-General who was appointed in 2016.
Contents
- History
- Activities
- Current Structure
- Capital City Police Office Karachi
- Range Police Offices
- Special Security Unit SSU
- Police Special Branches
- Weaponry
- Vehicles
- References
The Sindh Police has been fictionalized as well as dramatized in numerous movies, novels, dramas, and television shows through its history. The department has also been associated with a number of controversies, mainly concerned with crime, police brutality, and police corruption.
History
After becoming the Governor of Sindh, General Sir Charles Napier established a policy system based on the pattern of the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1843. British Indian Army Officers closely supervised and controlled the force which was consequently more disciplined, efficient and less corrupt. Influenced by the success of Napier’s police, the Court of Directors of the East India Company suggested that a common system of police be established on the pattern of the Irish Constabulary.
The British Indian Government set up a Police Commission headed by Mr. H.M.Court in 1860. One of the policy directives to the Police Commission of 1860 was that "though the duties of the police should be entirely civil, not military, the organization and discipline of the police should be similar to those of a military body". The present police system in our country has been established under this Charter. At the time of British Indian Police there was a famous Superintendent of Police from Pirdad (Hazro) in Punjab named Muhammad Umar Khan, who was much decorated.
In October 2010 the government announced that Sindh Police had been given the approval and will be provided with phone-tracking technology to help them tackle kidnapping cases and corruption on the streets of Karachi.
Activities
The Sindh Police has been actively involved in countering human trafficking, drug trade, solving cases (such as murder and abduction) and gang rivalry (as seen in the Lyari Operation).
It is also very common for the Police to block roads with shipping containers from the Karachi Port. However, this is an extremely controversial move, as the police forcefully take these containers from shipping companies, and as these containers are extremely expensive to replace, the companies endure huge financial loss.
Current Structure
Today, Sindh Police is divided into:
Capital City Police Office - Karachi
Karachi CCPO is divided into three zones:
Range Police Offices
Special Security Unit (SSU)
The Special Security Unit (SSU) is one of the specialized counterterrorism and security units of the Sindh Police. It performs the function of counterterrorism operations and provide security to important personalities and institutions. It is a Karachi based unit of Sindh Police, Pakistan and its operational jurisdiction extends to entire area of Sindh. The SSU was established due to the increased security and counterterrorism challenges in the country. It meets the international standards of counterterrorism training and has been directed to deal with the terrorist intimidations. The unit reports to IG Sindh and DIGP Security Mr. Lt(r) Maqsood Ahmed is the founding head of the unit.
Police Special Branches
CTD is divided into three cells
1. Operation Branch
2. Investigations Branch'
3. Anti-Extremist Cell'
Weaponry
The Sindh Police uses a variety of weaponry. However, these are a few of the most common weapons used.
AK47, Heckler & Koch G3, Heckler & Koch MP5 (MP5K version also widely used), Beretta M92, various Glock pistols, RPG-7, Tear gas, Riot shields, Flak Jackets.
Vehicles
The most common vehicles used by the Sindh Police are:
Toyota Hilux (Vigo version), Toyota Corolla, (2011 version), Mohafiz Internal Security Vehicle, APC Talha.
The Sindh Police is not known to use any aircraft, however there have been rumours that the Police use locally produced UAVs such as the SATUMA Jasoos, for reconnaissance.