LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday surrendered the services of former Pakpattan district police officer Rizwan Gondal to the Establishment Division.

Mr Gondal’s transfer hit another controversy as he was sent to the disposal of the federal government at a time when the second inquiry initiated against him by the police higher-ups was under process, an official told this reporter.

He said the first inquiry carried out by additional IG Investigation Punjab Abubakar Khudabakhsh did not prove the former DPO guilty of charges.

The issue came to the limelight when Chief Minister Usman Buzdar called Mr Gondal and his immediate boss to his office to admonish him for questioning Khawar Manika, a notable person of the area, and his family when they ignored the signal of the Elite Police at a picket on Aug 23.

Meanwhile, the premature transfer of Mr Gondal by the IGP added fuel to fire, prompting the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incident. The IGP was directed by the CJP to probe the matter, the official said, adding that the inquiry was pending yet and the government surrendered the services of Rizwan Gondal to the federal government.

He has also been relieved from the Punjab police, with a direction to report to the Establishment Division for further posting.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2018