March 11, 2007	Sunday	Safar 21, 1428

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LAHORE, March 10: Superseding by juniors and lack of promotion prospects have left the highly educated police inspectors directly recruited by the Shahbaz Sharif government in a quandary.

Almost 40 per cent of the inspectors have already left the job, leaving the remaining wonder whether they would retire in the same grade and rank if unable to try their luck somewhere else.

The Shahbaz Sharif government had directly recruited 247 inspectors in 1998 to change the culture of police station in the province.

The selected candidates included holders of MA, MSc, LLB or even MBBS or engineering degrees, who had agreed to join the BS-16 job in the hope of better future.

They were given specialised training and posted in police stations as SHOs but soon it dawned upon them that their promotion to the next rank would be difficult because of lack of posts.

The problem was also felt by the then Punjab additional IGP who, when became the IGP after removal of the Shahbaz Sharif government in 1999, recommended abolition of the direct recruitment of inspectors.

This was also reflected in the Police Order 2002, which provides for direct recruitment of only constables, ASIs and ASPs.

According to some of the inspectors, around 70 of their colleagues had left the job after losing hope of promotion. Around 22 managed to join the federal service after passing the CSS examination while the others were either working abroad or doing some business here.

“Those who could not find another chance, are continuing with the job with a grudge,” an inspector said.