July 22, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 06, 1428

LAHORE, July 21: Having poor service record, proven charges of various sorts of irregularities, including corruption, misconduct, negligence and inefficiency can’t bar you from getting a key post at least at the lower rung of police department in Punjab, the official record shows.

Officials in different ranks, posted at police station level, are enjoying key positions even after being proven guilty of serious charges, thanks to the deep-rooted culture of ‘Sifarish’ and favouritism haunting the police department.

Despite tall claims made by the Punjab IGP and capital city police high-ups to purge the police department of corrupt, inefficient and negligent officials, such officials, ranging from constable to inspector ranks, have been posted against key field positions.

This has become a routine practice in the department to post against key positions the officials who have been found guilty of indulging in various sorts of irregularities and misconduct. In many cases, recommendations are also made against giving field postings to such officials.

According to official record, more than 15 station house officers with a poor track record are currently discharging their duties in Lahore. Most of them have been proven guilty of the charges levelled against them through public complaints.

Besides, many investigation in charges and lower staff of both the operation as well as investigation wings, who have been punished on different charges in the past, are again working on key posts. The charges against them include receiving illegal gratification, supporting the accused party, backing anti-social elements, non-registration of cases, poor investigation, indiscipline and misconduct.

“Unfortunately, Sifarish culture has taken deep roots in our society, and police high-ups are under immense pressure from certain quarters to post officials having poor track record on lucrative posts,” a senior police officer says, asking not to be named.

He says on one hand, strong `recommendation’ becomes a major factor in the posting of such officials against key field positions, and on the other shortage of officials compels high-ups to post ill-reputed officials against important posts.

He further says when officials are inducted in the department as a result of `recommendations’ made by police bigwigs, they play havoc with discipline and further malign the image of police.

“How can you expect neutrality from such officials who either join service by using some connection or bribe,” he questions.

He further says what to talk of officials in lower ranks, the officers having ranks above inspector are also `adjusted’ on key field positions as a result of Sifarish culture.

Another officer says consistent dismissals and suspensions of the officials cant guarantee a noticeable change in the police station culture as a majority of them get reinstated.

“Officials pressurise the complainants by giving them bribe for not speaking against them in front of inquiry officers and many of them are ultimately declared innocent,” he says.

In many cases, these officials approach their high-ups through politically influential people soon after some punishment is recommended and often succeed in securing the same posts, he deplores.

“I have recently forwarded recommendation against a police official for not dealing a case properly to the capital city police high-ups, but he approached some senior police officer and ultimately I had to withdraw my recommendation,” lamented a divisional SP.

A senior police officer, however, said that for an official having repeated punishments on his service record, it usually became difficult for him to get promoted to next rank.

“The number of red marks on the performance report of an official do effect his or her promotion prospects,” he said.

In the present setup, some SHOs who were awarded punishments on different charges in 2006 were again given field postings, allegedly because of having connections in the `right’ places.

Naulakha SHO SI Muhammad Raees, who was suspended on charges of illegally possessing antique items worth Rs2.3 million, and for demanding Rs1 million from the owner, FazaL Karim, of Abbotabad in 2006, managed to get the same position in the same police station in 2007.

An FIR against him was also recommended by the then SSP for not obeying orders of the DSP concerned in the case.

Incumbent Green Town SHO sub-inspector Sarfraz Shah who was suspended from the post of Mughalpura SHO in 2006 after being found guilty of receiving Rs160,000 as bribe from two criminals involved in motorcycle theft, was again posted as an SHO in March 2007.

Similarly, incumbent Sattokatla SHO Malik Shamsher, who was suspended for conniving with the land grabbers who allegedly occupied a piece of land reportedly belonging to the sister of a former CCPO in 2006, was again posted as an SHO in the same police station in March 2007.

Another glaring example is of a former Defence SHO, SI Ibrar Shah, who was suspended by the former SSP for favouring a criminal. Despite the recommendation by the competent authority that the SI must not be posted as an SHO, he was again given the coveted post of Misri Shah SHO from where he was later transferred.

Similarly, Gulshan-i-Ravi SHO SI Noman Habib, who was suspended by the CCPO, has again been posted as Graden Town SHO.

Former Manga Mandi SHO inspector Mustaneer Ahmed Khan, who was suspended by the CCPO on March 7, 2007, for non-registration of a case, was posted as Defence SHO. The Raiwind circle SPO had also declared him guilty during a preliminary inquiry.

Such brash use of political and departmental interference in transfer and posting matters hinders the process of transformation of police stations into places from where people can expect justice and relief, says a young police officer seeking anonymity.

“It is still a distant dream for the people to expect friendly behaviour and quick response from the police officials,” he adds.

PUNITIVE ACTION: The incumbent CCPO has so far dismissed 23 officials, including seven inspectors, two sub-inspectors, one ASI, three head constables and 10 constables from service between Jan 1 and June 30, 2007. Similarly, out of the 21 officers suspended on various charges, nine are inspectors, seven SIs, four ASIs and one is constable. Besides, two sub-inspectors have been suspended during the two open courts held by the CCPO.

Capital City Police Officer Malik Muhammad Iqbal says he has constantly been awarding punishments to the officials and it is intended that they should not be given key posts.

“But, ultimately we have to take the existing force along as we have no other option,” he adds.