ISLAMABAD: The capital administration returned a summary by the Islamabad IG seeking suspension of police officers, who were removed from their posts on Tuesday, with a note that the recommendations should be in light of the minister’s directives, sources told Dawn.

The interior minister removed the three police officers – SP, SDPO and SHO – for being unable to prevent an attack on ARY News Channel and for being slow in the investigation.

The minister directed the police department to initiate an inquiry against them and fix responsibility.

The summary, sent from the office of the IGP with a subject: ‘Disciplinary action’ stated that the police officers were directed by the competent authority to conduct survey of sensitive buildings such as media houses, banks, schools and colleges and get private guards deployed there in coordination with the managements concerned.

They were further directed to visit these places during patrolling but they did not take these instructions seriously and deliberately misstated the facts to the competent authority.

Due to their negligence, slackness and indifferent attitude to comply with the directions of the competent authority, the unpleasant incident of cracker explosion took place at the news channel office, it stated, adding that at the time explosion, there was no guard at the roof-top of the building.

It further added that the Kohsar SHO Inspector Sajad Shah Bukhari had been placed under suspension.

Acting IGP Mohammad Khalid Khattak and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Zulfiqar Haider were not available for their comments. They did not reply to phone calls and SMS.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2016