LAHORE: The provincial police officer on Wednesday posted two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) who were earlier removed from their posts for failing to control kite flying in Lahore.

A senior superintendent of police (SSP) and another DSP were also among those posted by the PPO.

According to a notification, Punjab Special Branch SSP Syed Ali Mohsin was transferred and directed to report to the Central Police Office Punjab.

Tariq Zafar, who was awaiting posting, was posted Headquarters Okara DSP vice Saleem Ahmad Warraich who was transferred and posted Arifwala Circle SDPO in Pakpattan district.

Syed Asad Muzafar, who was awaiting posting, was posted Sadar Circle, Khanewal, SDPO against an existing vacancy.

Both Tariq Zafar and Asad Muzaffar were removed from their Lahore posts of Badami Bagh Circle SDPO and Mughalpura Circle SDPO, respectively, on Feb 18 after they failed to check kite-flying in their jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the police authorities have yet to post Bahawalpur district police officer (DPO). The post has been lying vacant for about three weeks or so and its acting charge has been assigned to Bahawalpur Traffic SP Ibrar Khalil.

Sources said names of four officers, including Bhakkar DPO Sarfraz Ahmad Falki and SSP Tariq Rustam Chohan, had been sent to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat by the Central Police Office for final selection for the post.

By delaying the appointment, the provincial government is apparently ignoring a politically important district, leaving it without the top police officer. The Bawalpur DPO slot got vacant after transfer of SSP Sohail Habib Tajik three weeks ago.

According to the sources, the PML-N led provincial government is in habit of leaving key field positions vacant for long, giving least priority to the officers recommended by police authorities for the slots.

They said the chief minister sometimes also remains indecisive with regard to field postings because of ‘Sifaarish’ culture as many officers try to influence the decision in their favour.

Secondly, they said, most of the ruling party politicians also wanted officers of their choice which delayed the postings.

According to a police officer, the provincial government is posting almost all field officers on political grounds.

Sources said the grabbing of important office postings by Police Service Pakistan (PSP) officers who simultaneously joined promotional courses, was also adversely affecting police performance.

They said such officers were usually too busy doing their courses to do their office work properly and just kept sticking to the posts to enjoy their job perks like transport facility. — FAISAL ALI GHUMMAN