LAHORE, May 13: As Punjab police chief has already formally requested the provincial caretaker government for his repatriation to centre after the general elections the new IG is likely to be picked from among three senior officers.

There are reports that caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi has accepted a written request for transfer made by IG Aftab Sulatn.

Mr Sultan, who was appointed Punjab IG on March 29, had shown his willingness to become the provincial police head on the condition that he would be transferred soon after elections, sources told Dawn on Monday.

They said Mr Sultan didn’t want to serve under any political setup because of his merit-oriented and non-political approach towards police matters.

In his May 10 correspondence with Punjab chief secretary, Mr Sultan stated: “I took over as inspector general of police in April 2013. Accepting the assignment was a sequel to my earlier meeting with the caretaker chief minister of Punjab at Islamabad wherein he (CM) had expressed his desire to have me as his inspector general.

“I had then expressed my reservations, indicating my reasons and amplifying further that I neither had the desire nor the inclination to serve in the indicated position. The chief minister was kind to give me a patient hearing and was of the view that Pakistan was at crossroads and the caretaker period could prove to be a defining moment for the country. He went on to say that Pakistan expected from every individual, particularly from the responsible members of the bureaucracy, to step forward to not only accept the assigned roles but also to perform the same with utmost diligence.”

Mr Sultan further stated: “I agreed for the stated cause but subject to the condition that I be relieved of my duties after the election. The chief minister was kind to agree. Today, May 10, the electioneering activity is entering its final and decisive phase. In the run up to the election, the Punjab police have acquitted itself well.”

He stated in the communiqué that since the election had been conducted, he be repatriated to the federal government.

Sources close to former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is likely to assume the charge of the same office in days to come, said names of additional IG Nasir Khan Durrani (former Punjab additional IG Special Branch), Balochistan IG Mushtaq Sukhaira (ex-Punjab additional IG Counter Terrorism Department) and Immigration & Passports Director General Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema (additional IG) were under consideration for the top police slot in the province.

Both Mr Durrani and Mr Sukhaira have a good equation with Shahbaz Sharif while Mr Cheema is in among favourites of PML-N patron Nawaz Sharif.

Sources said a moderate reshuffle would also take place across the province after PML-N formed the government in next few days and it was likely that some old faces would return to key field postings including regional police officers (RPOs) and the district police officers (DPOs).

A police source said a majority of filed officers were mentally prepared for reshuffle as Shahbaz Sharif was likely to pick his own team by interviewing officers.