A major crisis is brewing in Pakistan after deadly clashes broke out between Sindh police and Pakistan Army following the illegal detention of Sindh police chief.
Inspector-general Mushtaq Mahar was reportedly forced to sign on the arrest warrant of PML-N leader Captain Muhammad Safdar.
Safdar is the husband of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam.
On Monday, Maryam tweeted that police barged into their hotel room and arrested Safdar. The retired Pakistan Army officer was held for allegedly disrespecting the mausoleum of country founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
The Sindh government, which is ruled by the opposition Pakistan People’s Party led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said it had not ordered the arrest and that police had been pressured into taking the action.
Maryam said: “The police chief’s phones were seized. He was taken to the sector commander’s office and asked to sign the arrest orders.”
Mahar was reportedly allowed to leave only after he signed the arrest warrant.
According to reports, Pakistan Army Rangers were put on high alert in the province after Sindh police and Pakistan Army exchanged fire over the detention.
A report by Pakistan-based International Herald said the “civil war” resulted in the death of at least 10 Karachi police officers.
Following the humiliation meted out to their chief and the attacks on Sindh police, senior Sindh officers decided to go on leave in protest.
The situation got so tense that Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had to step in and order an inquiry.
Hours later, Sindh police tweeted saying Mahar had deferred his leave request and ordered his officers to set aside their leave application, pending conclusion of the probe.
