ISLAMABAD: The interior ministry, who removed a senior police officer on Monday, claimed that it had done so on the basis of an “anonymous complaint”.

Superintendent of Police (SP City) Rizwan Gondal has become the fifth officer of the Islamabad police to be removed on the orders of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Police officials told Dawn that the officer was victimised by the same interior ministry official who had earlier secured the removal of SP Yasir Afridi, when the latter refused to oblige him.

Sources in the police department said that SP Gondal was having sehri with some friends at a local five-star hotel. After their meal, they got involved in an argument over the valet parking service. According to police officials, the valet staff refused to bring the officer’s vehicle around, instead asking them to walk over to the parking lot and claim the vehicle themselves.

This turned into an argument, and the hotel’s duty manager also got involved. He used inappropriate language with the people in SP Gondal’s party, at which point, police sources said, the SP introduced himself.

When word of the duty manager’s behaviour reached police control, a police team was dispatched to the hotel. Once a message is circulated via the control room, it reaches all the senior-most police officers in the city. The police party took the hotel’s duty manager to the local police station for questioning and released him an hour later.

Police insiders also claimed that the matter was brought to the attention of hotel management, which excused itself regarding the lack of valet service and the duty manager’s inappropriate behaviour.

However, a Special Branch official deployed at the hotel brought the matter to the attention of his superiors, one of whom reportedly harboured a grudge against Gondal. Sources said it was this individual who turned the interior minister against SP Gondal.

Officials said that those informed the minister about the incident were also the same ones who were asked to conduct an inquiry.

Amina Jaffer, a representative for the hotel, claimed not to be aware of the incident and asked Dawn to contact Mr Azam Jamil, saying he was responsible for dealing with media queries. Despite repeated attempts over two days, Mr Jamil could not be reached on the number provided.

An interior ministry spokesperson was reluctant to identify the “citizen” who had lodged the complaint regarding the incident. When asked specifically whether a certain interior ministry staff member was behind the complaint, the spokesperson said, “I am not aware of this.”

Past precedent

SP Gondal is not the first officer to have invoked the interior minster’s ire.

In 2014, IGP Aftab Cheema and SSP Mohammad Ali Nekokara were removed, faced inquiries and were later dismissed from service after the interior minister fired them for refusing to use force against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters on Constitution Avenue.

The next New Year’s Day, SSP Asmatullah Junejo was suspended on the pretext that he ordered the release of an Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) officebearer, who was arrested in Tramri, police officials said. They added that he was later reinstated through an executive order from the prime minister, after he was found innocent.

A departmental inquiry conducted into the issue by then assistant inspector general of police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri at the time also found him innocent, but he was removed by the minister.

Former SP City Mustansar Feroz was removed from his post on Oct 22, 2014, officials said, on the basis that on Aug 20, 2014, Mr Feroz was asked by then IGP Khalid Khattak to remain with SSP Nekokara when action was taken against PTI and PAT protesters, but he refused to participate. As a result, he developed differences with the acting IGP and was about to resign, but the situation was defused upon the intervention of senior officers.

Later, allegations surfaced that he had a soft corner for PTI and PAT and had refused government directions instead of taking action. Officials said he was later removed by the minister.

SP Yasir Afridi was removed from the post of SP Industrial Area last year and repatriated to the Establishment Division after he allegedly refused to favour a suspect at the behest of an interior ministry official.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2016