GUJRAT: Contrary to the tall claims of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Prime Minister Imran Khan about depoliticising the bureaucracy and police, the party’s Punjab government seemed to be failing to resist political pressure for the posting and transfer of senior officials.

Tariq Abbas Qureshi who was posted as Gujranwala regional police officer some two weeks ago was again transferred on Nov 16 by the Punjab government and his services were put on the disposal of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

However, his transfer to the federal government was cancelled by the Establishment Division the same day. Though the officer was asked by the Punjab government to continue, the orders for cancellation of his transfer were yet to be issued.

Mr Qureshi had earlier (on September 8) been transferred to the FIA by the federal government but he did not join there and in the meantime he was posted as Gujranwala RPO in November.

A senior police official posted in the Gujranwala said the summary to cancel the RPO’s transfer order has already been moved to the competent authority in Punjab.

Another source said the abrupt transfer of RPO Gujranwala had also been brought into the notice of Prime Minister Imran Khan by one of his close aides in the ruling PTI after which Mr Qureshi’s services were again handed over to Punjab government.

Mr Qureshi has vast experience of serving in Gujranwala region as he served as the DPO Gujrat and Hafizabad in 2009-2010 and was also posted as a trainee ASP in Gujrat back in 1997-1998.

An official privy to these developments said that the move was “politically motivated”.

Official sources told Dawn that because of Punjab government’s ambivalence in posting and transfer matters, the officers felt unsure about their tenure and could not introduce reforms in their respective fields.

Earlier, around a week ago the Jhelum Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Suhail Khawaja, a BS-19 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS), was transferred only two weeks after his posting. Khalid Mehmud Tipu, the Jhelum additional deputy commissioner revenue was given the additional charge of Jhelum DC on November 12.

The sources said Suhail Khawaja’s transfer was influenced by a PTI MNA.

Similarly, Gujranwala deputy commissioner was transferred four days ago because of the alleged political interference but he has yet to relinquish the charge.

An administrative official in BS-17 told Dawn on condition of anonymity that he had been asked by the senior authorities to arrange recommendation of any ruling party lawmaker from the district where he wanted to get posted as assistant commissioner.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018