LAHORE: Eighteen senior police officers, two DIGs among them, are likely to be demoted after the Supreme Court verdict declaring “out-of-turn” promotions illegal.

These officers (mostly SPs) will get the rank of deputy superintendent of police and even inspector.

The Punjab police have been employing delaying tactics in implementation of two similar judgments the Supreme Court had passed in 2013 and 2015.

The apex court in its judgement of 2013 had declared: “No police personnel or civil servant is entitled to out-of-turn promotion on account of gallantry award or otherwise.”

In its latest decision on Jan 26, 2016, the SC expressed its utter displeasure over non-compliance of the earlier orders and warned the Punjab IG, the home secretary and the chief secretary of contempt of court proceeding.

“The non-compliance of this judgment shall expose these officials concerned to contempt proceedings,” the SC declares in its judgment (a copy is available with Dawn).

DIG Akhtar Omar Hayat Lalayka and CIA SP Umar Virk were among the beneficiaries of out-of-turn promotions.


SC warns govt of any further delay in the process


Officials say Mr Virk, who is using the rank of CIA SSP these days, is most likely to be made DSP if the Punjab police implement the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit. Similarly, some others may be demoted to the rank of inspectors and if the demotions are effected on the expected scale, it will be a ‘rare’ happening in the Punjab police history.

The other police officers included SPs Shahid Pervez Rana, Shahid Razaq Qureshi, Awais Malik, Faisal Gulzar Awan, Ijaz Shafi Dogar, Mansoor Naji, Raja Basharat Mahmood, Tahir Maqsood, Naeemul Hassan Khan, Syed Jamat Ali Bukhari, Karamatullah Malik and Rai Zameerul Haq.

DIG Javed Husain Shah and SPs Zarait Kiyani and Irfanullah have already retired.

The Punjab Police have sought from the regional and district police the promotion record of all these officers to process the case for demotion.

Outgoing Headquarters DIG Muhammad Farooq Mazhar had written a letter on Feb 1 last to the regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) concerned seeking details about 20 police officers.

The letter states: “The cases of out- of-turn promotions/gallantry awards are being processed by Establishment II Branch”.

The letter further states the record of the out-of-turn promotion cases of the following police officers, including recommendations received from the Regions, Units, courts’ orders and other related material/record, may be furnished to this office at the earliest to proceed further in the matter.

Earlier, the Advocate General Punjab in a written assurance apprised the SC that the Punjab government has started implementing the judgments.

“We must record our displeasure over the inaction on the part of the Punjab government for the directions issued by this court in 2013 and 2015. We expect that all the out of turn promotions granted either to the police personnel or gallantry award or otherwise shall be undone within four weeks from today and their seniority be re-fixed,” the Supreme Courtm declares in its judgment.

It further states that the out-of-turn promotions from constables to any gazetted officers shall be streamlined in terms of the aforesaid two judgements.

“On completion of the exercise the Punjab IG, the home secretary and chief secretary shall submit a compliance report with the assistant registrar of this court for our perusal in chambers,” the SC directed.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2016

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