Aftab Cheema sacked or on leave?

Published August 21, 2014
Inspector General of Police Islamabad Aftab Cheema. — Photo courtesy: The Lahore World
Inspector General of Police Islamabad Aftab Cheema. — Photo courtesy: The Lahore World

Is Aftab Cheema, the inspector general of Islamabad police, on leave? Or was he sacked.

The confusion began after a government spokesman said Cheema was on leave as opposed to a sack as had earlier been reported.

The refutation came hours after an earlier confirmation from the interior ministry regarding Cheema’s sacking.

The ministry had confirmed that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had removed Cheema from his position and Khalid Khattak has been appointed the acting inspector general.

The reason for Cheema’s alleged sacking was not clear with speculations doing the rounds.

Earlier today, Cheema had held a meeting with the interior secretary and had requested the government to allow him to proceed on leave. “The request was accepted and acceded,” the government spokesman said.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri alleged that the order to remove Cheema was issued after “he demanded a written order for taking action against the protesters…this is his only crime. What else could have caused his removal today?”

Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan also added to the speculation by claiming that Cheema had been removed by the government "because his conscience had awakened and he had refused to begin a crackdown against protestors in the federal capital city".

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.