ISLAMABAD: The interior minister overstepped his powers while removing Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sikandar Hayat on Wednesday night as all postings and transfers of officers in Grade 20 and above can be made on the directions of the prime minister.

“That is why the haphazard action could not be implemented and Mr Hayat continued to occupy his office even after the announcement of his replacement,” officials in the Establishment Division and the police told Dawn on Thursday.

They said at the most the interior minister could have moved a summery to the prime minister through the secretaries interior and establishment recommending the transfer of the IGP. A grade 21 officer can be appointed as IGP but in the capital city deputy inspector general (grade 20) are also appointed as the IGP. Mr Hayat is a grade 20 police officer.

“Realising the mistake, the minister has now moved a summary to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is on a foreign visit,” they added.

The officials said there was a possibility that the recommendation for the transfer of IGP would be turned down as Mr Hayat had directly been picked for the office by the prime minister reportedly on the desire of Saudi Arab.

When contacted, senior lawyer Arif Chaudhry said according to the Civil Services Rules and Estacode, only the prime minister had the authority to appoint and remove officers in grade 20 and above. The interior minister, interior ministry and the Establishment Division have no such power, he added.

They can move a summery for the appointment and removal of any officers in grade 20 and above, he said.

Meanwhile, a majority of officers in the capital police disappeared from their offices showing their unwillingness to work under DIG Khalid Khattak, who was given the acting charge of the IGP on Wednesday.

Assistant Inspector General Dr Sultan Azam Temuri, who was given the acting charge of SSP (operation), also refused to assume the office. Police officers close to him quoted Mr Temuri as saying he cannot work under Mr Khattak who was five years junior to him.

In 2012, the Central Selection Board did not consider Mr Temuri’s promotion as he had not completed one-year tenure after returning from a UN mission.

In 2013, the board again refused to consider his case with the objection that his one-year ACR (annual confidential report) was missing from his file.