Sindh Human Rights Commission without chairman following Detho’s removal
Sindh Human Rights Commission is without chairman following Detho removal
Karachi: The Sindh Human Rights Commission remains without a chairman more than three weeks after the removal of Iqbal Detho.
The Sindh government issued a notification on September 8 dismissing Detho from his post, following approval by the provincial cabinet in its August 7 meeting. Since then, the commission’s affairs are being overseen by the secretary of the Human Rights Department, who is the commission’s chief executive by law.
The seven-member commission includes a retired High Court judge, two MPAs, and human rights activists.
Sindh Human Rights Commission ‘s member and government spokesperson Sukh Dev Hemnani told media that until a new chairman is appointed, the secretary would continue managing the body’s work. He added that the chief minister has the authority to appoint any member as chairman until the commission’s term expires.
Allegations Against Iqbal Detho
Detho was accused of harassment, corruption, illegal appointments, financial irregularities, and misuse of funds. Complaints filed by rights activists, including Shireen Asad, Dr. Aisha Dharejo, Anis Haroon, Mehnaz Rehman, and Dr. Riaz Shaikh, prompted an inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Detho has been denying the charges.
A special cabinet subcommittee — comprising Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla, and the CM’s special assistant on human rights — examined the evidence and recommended his removal.
Shireen Asad said that despite multiple chances to resign, Detho refused, leaving the government with no choice but to dismiss him. She thanked PPP leadership for taking action.
Dr. Aisha Dharejo, a social activist and member of the commission, alleged that Detho repeatedly threatened her and once harassed her over the phone, asking her to visit his office alone. She also accused him of misusing commission resources, falsifying meeting minutes to pass budgets, and keeping official gifts for himself.
PPP’s Sindh government ultimately removed Detho after inquiries concluded he was guilty of misconduct. When contacted for his response, the former chairman cited ill health and declined to comment.
