LAHORE: Differences between the Punjab government and the Inspector General of Police have led to the removal of two BS-20 senior police officials, including Headquarters DIG Babar Bakht Qureshi, from their slots

The Punjab government surrendered the services of Mr Qureshi and Highways Patrolling Posts DIG Suhail Akhtar Sukhera to the Establishment Division, Islamabad.

The Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officers expressed concern over the ‘abrupt’ removal of the headquarters DIG, an official privy to the information told Dawn.

He said since the headquarters DIG also acts as principal staff officer to the IGP, his premature transfer (particularly repatriation to Islamabad) would vitiate the operational autonomy of the police force head.

The appointment of the headquarters DIG has been the second top most important slot in the Central Police Office (CPO) as he shares significant assignments with the IGP.

IGP ‘at odds’ with govt over transfers, postings

Unveiling some interesting facts/motives behind the move, he said both the officers were said to be close to the IGP and they came under fire following some differences of the head of the police force with the Punjab government over the transfer and posting issue.

The notification of their repatriation to Islamabad was issued on Dec 6 and its implementation was delayed after the IGP borrowed some time [for its cancellation], he said.

IG Amjad Javed Saleemi met the chief minister twice to get the orders of repatriation of these two DIGs cancelled, the official claimed.

However, he met with an embarrassment when the government turned down his requests stating that since the decision was taken in Islamabad, no one could interfere here.

“The government has given a clear message to the IGP by repatriating his two favourite senior police officers that it required 100 per cent compliance,” the official said.

He said the Punjab government and the IGP developed differences for the first time when Mr Saleemi in the last week of October sent a summary to Chief Minister Usman Buzdar requesting him to surrender DIG Special Branch Zaheem Sheikh.

Mr Sheikh, who was also holding charge of additional IG Special Branch Punjab, was having good terms with the incumbent Punjab government.

He said the CM rejected the summary which irked the IG. Meanwhile, he got a message from the government for the appointment of DIG-ranked police officer Maqsoodul Hassan (awaiting posting) as RPO DG Khan.

In the past, Mr Hassan had served as DPO DG Khan, the hometown of the chief minister, and was having good relations with the incumbent government.

The official said the differences between the IGP and the government further widened after Mr Saleemi resisted the posting of Mr Hassan.

The issue again surfaced when the IGP issued province-wide transfer ands postings of over 150 DSPs, he said.

Of them, he said, several DSPs were transferred on the recommendations of the Chief Minister Secretariat.

However, the IGP got directions from the power corridors to cancel transfers/postings of some DSPs. This led to a serious issue in the police department after some RPOs took up the matter with the IGP, taking a plea that the frequent reshuffle was hampering work.

The official said the IGP conveyed the same to the CM Secretariat showing ‘resistance’ to the government.

Meanwhile, two secretaries posted at key slots at CM Secretariat at 8-Club Road called the headquarters DIG where they expressed their annoyance, holding him equally responsible and giving him a message that the Punjab government would not tolerate non-compliance with its directions.

The official said the headquarters DIG spent an hour at the CM Secretariat and later he apprised the IGP of government’s reservations.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2018