LAHORE: Around 100 officers of the Police Service of Pakistan who met at the Central Police Office here on Wednesday created a revolt-like situation against the Punjab government move to hand over the administrative control of three important police wings to the provincial home department to create a new anti-terror force.

The protesting officers, from assistant superintendent of police (ASP) to the additional inspector general of police (AIG) rank, also showed reservations about the ‘silent’ role of Inspector General of Police Khan Baig who, according to them, avoided taking stance over weakening of his office.

The PSP officers are resisting the Punjab government move to give the administrative control of the counter terrorism department to the Home department. This was their second such gathering in four days. Earlier on Sunday, a group of 25 officers had assembled at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines and criticised the IGP and the provincial government for separating police wings which were police subjects across the world.

A group of newly-inducted ASPs, including female officers who are currently on an official visit to the city, also attended the meeting held at the conference room.

Official sources in the Punjab government, on the other hand, say there is no plan to withdraw the Punjab Elite Police Force and the Special Branch from the police department. However, the government plans to establish a ‘stand alone’ Counter Terrorism Force under the home minister who is presently the chief minister.

The IGP reportedly ‘chose’ to stay away from the CPO during the meeting of his subordinates apparently to avoid teasing questions.

An insider confided to Dawn that usually the IGP acted as chief guest in the PSP’s Punjab chapter meetings.

He said a majority of participants spoke against the government’s move and decided not to continue their duties until their top command settled down the matters with the government. He said a couple of district police officers announced that they were even ready to leave Punjab police and move to some other province.

He said according to minutes of a meeting chaired by the prime minister a few months ago, the plan to raise the anti-terrorism force sans police had been finalized. Now, he said, the home department had started recruiting retired army officers and 300 corporals.

The insider said the irony of the matter was that the IGP following the direction of the government himself directed the Elite Police Force to prepare a proposal to be put at the disposal of the CTF as a back-up force.

Another insider said some police officers suggested raising the matter in official correspondence, but a majority of young officers opposed it and suggested to take up the issue aggressively as they thought the government had shown distrust in their capabilities.

He said the officers were of the view that a non-professional officer (the home secretary) had been given the command of core police function.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the PSP Association (Punjab chapter) stated that their meeting was attended by a large number of officers and different professional-cum-welfare issues were discussed.

Officers expressed their views over proposed changes in the structure of Punjab police and unrest prevailing among PSP officers.

The participants were of the view that the decisions regarding administrative matters of Punjab police without coordination of officers were not favourable for public and society.

The meeting decided to meet the IGP on Thursday (today) to convey him PSP’s reservations so that the government could be contacted at all levels for resolving core issues.

A three-member body comprising three senior police officers was also formed to take up police matters with the IGP. The members are President DIG Zulfiqar Hameed, Vice President SSP Hussain Habib Imtiaz and Secretary SSP Sohail Akhtar Sohkaira

Meanwhile, a team of three police officers met Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah at night and conveyed their reservations about the government move. The minister reportedly promised to take up the matter with the chief minister.

NO WORK: The official work at the CPO almost remained suspended due to protesting officers’ gathering.