LAHORE, Sept 24: The Punjab government notified the status of ex-officio secretary for the IGP on Wednesday, giving him full administrative powers of his department, including the posting and transfer of officers in BS-17, 18 and 19.

The IGP has been given these powers under the Police Order 2002. However, the procedure for his appointment laid down in the same law has not been followed.

According to Article 11 of the law, “the provincial government shall, out of a panel of three police officers recommended by the National Public Safety Commission from a list provided by the federal government, post a police officer of the rank of IGP as Provincial Police Officer of the province”.

Official sources termed the decision a violation of the law in the absence of National Public Safety Commission. They compared ex-officio secretary’s authority with a building that had no foundations — which would have been provided by his appointment in accordance with the law.

They said the police had so far been fighting only for administrative and financial powers of the IGP and were less interested in the implementation of all other articles of the law to avoid checks and balances.

They said one of the major powers to be used by the IGP would be the transfer of officers in the rank of SP and SSPs which the provincial government had been reluctant to give him.

Up till now the same powers had been used by the Services and General Administration Department of the provincial government despite the fact that recommendations for the transfers and postings in BS-17, 18 and 19 used to be made by the IGP.

After notification of the powers the provincial government can only appoint DIGs in consultation with the Provincial Police Officer or the Capital City Police Officer for any part of a general police area or police headquarters.