LAHORE: The federal government has appointed senior police officer Mehar Khalid Dad Lak the national coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan, dashing his hope to be the next chief of the Punjab police.

He was the only grade 22 officer on a panel of three officers, sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for his consideration for the post of the inspector general of police (IGP), an official privy to the information told Dawn.

The two other officers on the panel are: chief of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police Mohammad Tahir and former additional IG Faisal Shahkar, both grade 21 officers.

The official said the transfer and posting of Mr Dad at a time when the decision about the Punjab IGP had yet to be done, stirred a debate in the police circle about the reasons to give Mr Lak the new assignment.

The grade 22 police officer was holding the post of commandant of the National Police Academy when he was proposed in a summary for the IGP slot.

The official said the way Mr Luk was chucked out of the panel, created impression in the top police circle that a “ceremonial panel” was formed for the IGP slot whereas the candidate had already been finalised.

The official said the summary after the final consideration by the prime minister had been sent back to the Cabinet Division in Islamabad.

He said Mr Tahir had already been tipped as the next IGP, thanks to a lobby work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, he said, some senior officers in the Cabinet Division had suggested the authorities to review the matter to avoid controversy as Mr Tahir would retire after two years.

The section 12 of the Police Order of 2002 categorically states: “The term of office of Provincial Police Officer, Capital City Police Officer and Head of a Federal Law Enforcement Agency posted under Article 11 shall be three years from the date of his posting”.

The official said a decision of the former chief justice of the Lahore High Court also came under discussion in the police circles wherein he had suspended the notification of then Punjab IGP retired Captain Usman Khattak whose appointment was made in violation of the above-mentioned clause of the Police Order 2002 in July 2017.

The federal government also made another important posting on Tuesday and posted grade 22 police officer Dr Mohammad Suleman Khan the director general of the Intelligence Bureau.

Reshuffle

In the first round of transfers/postings in the Punjab Police since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) formed its government in the province, the inspector general of police (IGP) has reshuffled 15 senior officers.

According to a notification issued here on Tuesday, Rana Mansoorul Haq has been posted as SSP Telecommunication Punjab against an existing vacancy. SP Legal DG Khan Javed Iqbal Bajwa has been transferred and posted as SP Legal Bahawalpur region against an existing vacancy.

Additional SP Madina Town, Faisalabad, Asif Amin Awan has been transferred and posted as Additional SP Operations Cantt Lahore vice retired Capt Bilal Iftikhar who has been transferred and directed to report to the CPO. SP Investigation Attock Ahmad Mohiuddin has been transferred and posted as SSP CTD Faisalabad against an existing vacancy.

SP Security VIP Special Branch Lahore Naveed Akhtar has been transferred and posted as Battalion Commander (1) Punjab Constabulary Lahore against an existing vacancy.

Additional SP Jaranwala Division Faisalabad Mustansar Ata Bajwa has been transferred and posted as SP Chief Security and Liaison Officer Coordinator Lahore High Court vice Aftab Ahmad who has been transferred and posted as SP Madina Town, Faisalabad.

SP Investigation Vehari Shujaat Ali Rana has been transferred and posted as SP Punjab Highways Patrol Gujranwala against an existing vacancy.

SP Investigation Toba Tek Singh Umme Salma has been transferred and posted as SP Punjab Highways Patrol Faisalabad against an existing vacancy.

Besides these, the IGP also issued transfer postings of the deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs).

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2018