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If Pakpattan DPO was transferred on someone's instructions, there will be trouble: CJP
The Supreme Court on Friday initiated proceedings in a case pertaining to the sudden transfer of the District Police Officer (DPO) Pakpattan under controversial circumstances.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had on Thursday taken suo motu notice of the transfer of former Pakpattan DPO Rizwan Gondal, allegedly over an altercation with citizen Khawar Fareed Maneka, ex-husband of First Lady Bushra Imran.
The chief justice had ordered Punjab Inspector General (IG) Kaleem Imam, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Abu Bakar Khuda Buksh, Sahiwal’s regional police officer (RPO) and the Pakpattan DPO to appear before the Supreme Court at 9:30am today along with the inquiry report.
"What's the story?" Chief Justice Saqib Nisar asked as he began hearing the case on Friday morning. "Why has the entire nation been obsessed with it for the last five days?"
According to the media's reporting of the reasons behind Gondal's transfer, relying on several unsubstantiated reports, the officer was allegedly transferred for refusing to apologise in person to Khawar Maneka over an altercation between Maneka and police officials.
The altercation was said to be over an incident involving Khawar Maneka and the Pakpattan police. Late on August 23 or early August 24, Khawar Maneka was flagged to stop at a security picket in Pakpattan by police, but he allegedly refused and raced ahead. The police had subsequently chased him down and forced him to stop, after which harsh words were exchanged between the two parties.
'Police should be empowered'
"I want to make it clear that we want the police to be free and empowered. It does not sit well that the chief minister [of Punjab] or someone sitting with him may have been responsible for the officer's transfer," the chief justice said on the outset of the case's hearing.
The chief justice's reference to the 'person sitting with the chief minister' is to Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, said to be an influential person who is close to the Maneka family. Gujjar and Punjab CM Usman Buzdar had reportedly summoned Gondal to the CM's office for an 'explanation' of the events in Pakpattan shortly before the officer was transferred from his posting.
"Where's Khawar Maneka?" the chief justice asked. "Where's Ahsan Jameel Gujjar? Why was the DPO called to [Khawar Maneka's] dera to apologise?"
"Why was the DPO transferred at 1am in the night? Could the transfer not have waited till the morning? What was the urgency that the transfer orders had to be issued at night only?" the CJP asked.
"We will not tolerate any political interference [in the police's operations]," Justice Ejazul Ahsan chipped in.
"We'll see how anyone can be transferred under pressure," the CJP added.
'There was no pressure'
Responding to the judges' queries, the IG Punjab took the stand to state his version of events.
"There was no pressure on me to make the transfer," IG Imam said. "This was a departmental decision."
"We found out through the Special Branch and various other sources that Rizwan Gondal had not been entirely forthcoming to us," the IGP said, elaborating on his decision to move Gondal out of Pakpattan. "In any case, a transfer is not a punishment."
To the question of why Gondal went to CM House, the IG said: "The chief minister summoned DPO Rizwan Gondal."
"Did you stop the chief minister from meeting the DPO?" the chief justice asked.
The CJP then asked the IG what was wrong with the police questioning a woman pedestrian — a reference to reports that there had been a separate incident in Pakpattan early in August also involving a member of the Maneka family — a woman — who had similarly been 'stopped' by police for questioning.
The IG told the court that the woman hadn't simply been stopped for questioning: "Someone also grabbed her by the arm," he said.
Gondal himself took the stand next.
"The chief minister's PSO Haider called me and the RPO for a meeting," Rizwan Gondal told the court.
"I had told the RPO about the August 23, 24 incident," Gondal said. "I had also informed the IG Punjab through WhatsApp."
"On the day of the incident, I received a phone call at 4pm that I should present myself at CM House before 10pm that night," Gondal deposed. "I reached there at 10pm, where I was introduced to Ahsan Jameel as the chief minister's 'brother'."
"Jameel asked me to tell him if there was some kind of conspiracy against the Maneka family," Gondal said.
"I also received messages from abroad," Gondal said, presumably referring to pressure on him to apologise to the Manekas.
"Who sent those messages?" the chief justice asked.
"Among the people who sent the messages was an ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) colonel named Tariq. He messaged saying I should go to the dera," Gondal said. "Another message was sent by my senior, Azeem Arshad."
Gondal said he "kept calling Ibrahim Maneka to tell him that if he could not come to my office, he could come to my house", referring to reports that he had been asked to apologise to Bushra Imran's son from her first marriage on the harassment issue.
'Harassment case'
The AIG was called to the stand next.
"The first incident, of harassment of a woman, took place on August 5," the AIG deposed to the court. "No action was taken on this from August 6 to August 23, even though the DPO should have investigated the incident. We are public servants, there should be no ego involved in what we do."
"On August 24, 18 days after the incident, we were told that someone called from abroad and that someone called from the ISI," the AIG said.
"So your position is that the August 5 matter should have been investigated by the DPO and wasn't?" Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked.
"The writ of the state should always be upheld," Justice Bandial remarked. "The police is there to serve, but our police asks complainants to come with a car if they want their complaint to be registered. We need to change this system."
However, Gondal dismissed the allegation.
"I can say on oath that I was not informed by any police official about any incident of harassment," Gondal told the court.
"What was the chief minister's role in all of this?" the chief justice asked. "Where did his friend drop in from? Is Ahsan Jameel Gujjar some kind of influential individual?"
"How soon can Khawar Maneka and Ahsan Gujjar be presented before the court?" he subsequently asked.
Khawar Maneka, however, excused himself from leaving Lahore before 3pm. Meanwhile, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar could not be reached by the additional advocate general of Punjab.
When the court was informed by the additional attorney general after a break that Maneka, Gujjar and Col Tariq could not be presented before the court today due to various reasons, the court adjourned the case to Monday.
It additionally summoned the CM's PSO, the DIG Headquarters Shehzada Sultan and the CM's CSO, tasking the IG Punjab with the responsibility of ensuring everyone was present for the hearing.
Ominously, the chief justice also told the Punjab advocate general to read court judgements involving Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.
"We'll see if the authority accorded to public offices was abused in this case," he said.
Comments (65) Closed
People are getting emotional in Naya Pakistan... Nothing gona change until nation change itself from top to low
Excellent - I like this CJ - extend his term for another 5 years - he will keep everyone in line
Exactly. Thank you CJP for that. Because this is absolutely unacceptable in Naya Pakistan. If PTI envisions strong institutions, then they should not violate the sanctity and procedures of that institutions by short-circuiting everything. There are rules and procedures via which they disciplinary action should have been taken against the officer, if found guilty. CM Punjab should not have exerted his alleged pressure and have let things be.
That the way, Manekas are not above law.
Felt good reading . . . .
Will he take action; if it all leads back to Bani Gala? Don't think so.
ISI colonels are managing road incidents and asking police officers to apologize for doing their job in this country. Justice Siddique is right.
Imran - Kejriwal of Pakistan in making...
Great work to upheld true justice and nip the evil of nepotism and self-service in the country by the wonderful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and his colleagues, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Keep it up and hang on tough.
Appreciate the steps by SC. We can achieve just and fair Pakistan by such contribution from all institutions.
Building blocks of the Naya Pakistan...Good work CJP.
This dilemma can have consequences that the authorities must heed.
Good job CJ
I am a PTI voter and I am much relieved at this intervention by the Supreme Court. I would be the most happy person if the CM is disqualified under article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution "for abusing his ministerial powers". We will never rant about civilian authority being compromised or voters getting disrespected by un-elected institutions.
It will take time to change this culture
We will see if CJP is all talk or if he will take action against the culprits including maneka and CM.
Great. This should have been initiated by Imran
Establishing the rule of law in the country is something for which the people await with anticipation of the courts doing the right thing.
a step in right direction
An important lesson for party/department heads: in any power related algebraic equation, do not ignore the all important 'brother(s)' factor.
Authority accorded to public offices was definitely abused when a senior police officer was harshly called to appear before the CM at 10 PM, abused by the CM's brother and then served a transfer letter just after midnight in the thick of night, within 3 hours!
Two badly failed parties which claim to political, are trying to make a mountain out of mole. People are more concerned about the process of accountability and improvements to our social contract than your cheap gimmicks.
@Sheraz Ali It is being changed, but the MAALISHEE of the previous Government are still hurdle, and this police officer is one of them, he is habitual criminal mind, just remember what he did in Serena Hotel Islamabad. History travels with you.
Good job ---Chief Justice----keep it up.
IK has shown poor judgement in picking this Buzdar guy as the new CM. You got to have stronger credentials than “having no electricity” in your house as the reason to be CM of the largest province.
This is not a good start what pti Imran Khan has been saying all along.Strong,independent justice system and respect to every citizen.Looks like pti is not any different.
Well CJP !
Shame if transfer happened due to political pressure. Looks like it. Nothing will change in Naya Pakistan, it looks like. Common people continue to suffer.
Social media and political pundits on endless TV talk shows, add to it name Maneka and relation to Mrs.Khan- beginning of an endless saga. CJ 's inquiry will put to an end all endless speculations and it should.
The change can only start from the top. This incident is already showing that CM Punjab is just a new face with the old mentality and his selection as CM was wrong. A change cannot come with people like him in office .
Col Tariq (ISI) should better be prepared to answer all the question. He better furnish proof that in no way he was involved
I salute the brave DPO for standing up to this. I am sure that he is under immense pressure to compromise. Hopefully he will not cave in to pressure over the weekend.
Rule of law must prevail. No matter who, If someone has abuse the public office then he must be accountable for that.
Bravo! What a thorough inquiry by the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the police duties and the undue political influence! The intervention of ISI makes it a stuff for a movie or a fiction. In any case, it should serve as good precedent to tell the nation that police needs respect and security in order to do its job properly. However, in return, the nation has a right to demand competent and honest police officials.
Where does this CJ wants to take this country?. Rules of business are still same,in which the CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had the right to post government officials being the chief executive of the province.In that capacity he almost on daily basis used to transfer officials,including Police Officials, incidents of Qasur and Model Town are just two such incidents to quote. Why suo motto was not taken at that time ?. In addition if the CM is responsible for the performance of the government / Police officials, then he must order their postings if they are indulging in wrong doings. In Dr.Rizwan case,why no action was taken when police officials held the girls hand forcibly?. To move any time any where is a fundamental right.It is misogyny to stop a girls movement for no reason.
@Saad Saeed 100% agree with you. He never thought in his wildest dreams of becoming the CM. he got more than he deserve.
A watchful judiciary is the best guardian of good governance.
Plz, plz, give weight to principles and not the 'principals' involved here and all other similar cases. Principles will guide you in the right direction while 'principals', most often will send you off wandering in jungle of helplessness and hopelessness. It is time to follow principles and discard questionable 'principals'.
@Sid Agreed infinite times. We need that man for the sake of the country.
We are blessed to have this CJP in our country. However, it is strongly needed that he should train his juniors to be like him. We need to develop a whole institution of like minded people like him.
There are now at least 3 strikes against Punjab CM: Murder case, use of official helicopter for personnel use and getting unnecessarily involved in this case. He should now either resign or the Captain should remove him.
Regret the whole team of PTI is feudals except Asad Umer. People should not expect Naya Pakistan, I wonder what will happen to Punjab in future, all the good work done in the past? Punjab will be in turmoil. This nonsense of influentials must stop now we are all equal.
We hope for justice in this case.
Wrong question: Did the DPO behave badly to his highness Maneka or not. The right question: In case it wasn't the ex-husband on the receiving end but a poor laborer, would they still summon the DPO to the CM office and let a friend of that poor laborer question the DPO while sitting next to the CM and then ask the IG to get him transferred?
@Saad Saeed - PM office at any cost. Didn't you see compromises in open day light?
This whole charade of change and naya Pakistan will end soon. IK will be exposed and all will see his contradictions.
How obedient our civil servants are to the big shots and people like rizwan are always troubled to make the landlords Happy. What a democracy..
These men Ahsan Jameel Gujjar and Usman Buzdar really need to be taken to task. In what capacity did they investigate the police officers? Both men have criminal records. Police should be investigating them!
Shouldn't PTI who had high claims of better governance investigate their own CM?
We must find out the truth and truth only and whoever is responsible for all this fiasco and wasting nation's time must be punished.
I have no words to say but "Thank you Mr. CJ of Pakistan". This nation will remember you with the good name.
The DPO called at CM House at 10 pm in the night.Transfer letter issued at 1 am in the night. The IGP wants us to believe it was a routine disciplinary action against a ill disciplined employee? Come on, in which police disciplinary action messages and threats are sent to employee on whatsup, employee called in CM House, transfer letter issued in middle of the night? The most punishable person in this incident is the IGP who could not protect his rightful and dutiful employee from political pressure.
CM Punjab is a continuation of PMLN rule.
Dark powers are controlling.
You don't transfer any person at a last minute notice at at 11pm! Something doesn't sound right!
If CM is involved he should be punished too.
PM should take such notices, but CJP Bravo.
Love the CJP
I thought Executive and Judiciary are two distinct, separate and independent functionaries. Police officer"s transfer is a trivial matter and precious time of Supreme Court ought be preserved for pending constitutional and other case load. Police officer is free to pursue his legal remedies at an appropriate forum.
well done chief justice every one must be hold responsible for their acts there is only one law and that is same for all. imagine a scenario if it was not an influential person.
DPO transfered at 1am at night... Must have angered some very powerful people.
@Saad Saeed Let CM speak also, this might lead to Bani Gala
The CJ is interfering in administration of the Govt. His job is uphold the law and not get involve in small issues
Positive change and strengthening of institutions in the country is in the hands of individuals like this DPO who refused to follow an illegal and unreasonable order. If A couple of hundred more people like him would act accordingly, Pakistan would complete its transformation.
@Sid I love him when he will straighten out the judiciary as well....!!!
agreed