LAHORE: The Punjab police department has approached the Establishment Division, Islamabad, for clarity regarding the ‘hard area’ policy governing the transfers of senior officials from one province to other.

The move followed a controversy created after transfer of a senior police officer from Punjab to Balochistan as the officer challenged the “hard area” policy of the Establishment Division.

The officer, Muhammad Naveed, presently serving in Lahore as operations SP of Cantonment Division, in his communication with the Establishment Division has taken the stance that because he had already served in Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) for a certain period, as required under the policy, his transfer to Balochistan contradicted the laid down policy.

The officer through an application has sought clarity from the Establishment Division regarding his transfer order under the ‘hard area’ policy.

According to official sources, some SPs on their promotion were transferred by the Establishment Division to Balochistan from Punjab under the policy for a certain period that varies from two to five years, some two months back.

The transferred officers also include Jawad Tariq, Baqa Bugti and Tariq Mastoi.

Interestingly, all the other transferred SPs followed the orders and joined their new assignments in the troubled province, except Mr Naveed, who is still occupying his post in Lahore.

The sources said that after Mr Naveed’s response, the Punjab police high-ups discussed the matter in detail and the department moved his case to the Establishment Division.

They further said the police department withheld the process of relieving Mr Naveed from Punjab on his request to await for the Established Division’s verdict.

Balochistan is at the top among the provinces facing an acute shortage of police officers in senior ranks.

According to the sources, because of the bad law and order situation in the province most of the senior police officers avoid to serve in Balochistan.

Talking to Dawn, Headquarters DIG BA Nasir said the case of Mr Naveed was lying pending with the Establishment Division for an inquiry.

He confirmed that the Punjab police had moved the case to Islamabad seeking clarity on the policy.

To a question, he said, the provincial police department would take any decision on Mr Naveed’s case in the light of the findings of the Establishment Division.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2018