Govt replaces Punjab IGP Saleemi

E-Paper | June 09, 2026

Govt replaces Punjab IGP Saleemi

Tahir Sherani Published April 15, 2019

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat, Saleemi "is transferred and directed to report to Establishment Division with immediate effect". ─ DawnNewsTV/File

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The federal government on Monday replaced Amjad Javed Saleemi with Captain (Rtd) Arif Nawaz Khan as the inspector general of Police (IGP) in Punjab.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat, Saleemi "is transferred and directed to report to Establishment Division with immediate effect".

Saleemi was the IGP Sindh when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf government came into power last year. In Sep 2018, he was relieved of his duties in Sindh and made the IGP Punjab a month later.

Nawaz, his replacement in Punjab's top police post, is "presently serving as secretary of the Narcotics Control Division", according to the aforesaid notification.

The new IGP Punjab had held the same post during the PML-N government as well.

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Pakistan

Tahir Sherani is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with 16 years of experience. His coverage focuses on the national economy, energy, cabinet affairs, the Establishment Division, and the Prime Minister’s Office.

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Apr 15, 2019 09:10pm

WHY??

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M. Saeed

Apr 15, 2019 09:12pm

This is a proof of failure of the utter failure of Buzdar as CM Punjab. Imran Khan also has no clues.

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Nadeem Yousuf

Apr 15, 2019 09:14pm

Another U turn!

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Danish

Apr 15, 2019 09:19pm

Very good keep changing officers in Punjab . Naya Pakistan needs replacement in every department.

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Saad

Apr 15, 2019 09:20pm

Reason?

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MSD

Apr 15, 2019 09:26pm

IK making mistakes everyday. He is exposed by his decision making and policy failures.

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Lassiwala

Apr 15, 2019 09:32pm

When are we coming out of experimental phases? Everything is falling apart. Dear Sir Imran Khan, please stop these experiments and put something in really practical that may trickle fruits down to a common man.

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N_Saq

Apr 15, 2019 09:36pm

It is okay. If a person is not fit for the job or is not doing the job as per his/her duties then he/she can be fired or replaced. It is employers prerogative. However, under no circumstances one should break the law in order to please his employer because It is better to lose the job then break the law.

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Nawaz

Apr 15, 2019 09:39pm

When is he going to change Buzdar, Asad Umer and Razaq Dawood whose performance has been abysmal?

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Saeeds

Apr 15, 2019 09:55pm

It's failure of system not individual.Too many people controlling too much which they have no clue. Police should be out federal system and run under local authorities .

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Aby

Apr 15, 2019 10:21pm

Welcome back people

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Abc

Apr 15, 2019 10:24pm

@MSD, yes, but we have no choice.

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Mian Shoaib

Apr 15, 2019 10:26pm

@Danish, replacement but how often? u mean on regular basis. then good idea

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Javef

Apr 15, 2019 11:11pm

Same deck of cards, just a different shuffle.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Apr 15, 2019 11:12pm

We have to recruit new generation police officers based on qualifications, ability and merits and train them professionally (under the supervision of the army) and teach them to perform their duties honestly, diligently and impartially. The question is where these type of people will come from and, how long it will take to train them? In the meantime, we have to get best of our current police officers through motivation and other techniques - it is a long process but it can be done slowly slowly. (Gharib Awam ki Awaz).

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Apr 16, 2019 12:34am

Great move.

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Apr 16, 2019 12:46am

It would be highly appreciated the reasons of transferring a most senior officer may be known to general public ,if possible.(Texas)

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Shair Khan

Apr 16, 2019 01:07am

IK the PM and Buzdar have a very track record in executing the basics. They are good at sound bytes.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 03:59am

Difficult to find an honest hard working policman to lead. Sad.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:02am

@N_Saq, a sign of good governance, failures replaced. Perform or perish, good standard.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:36am

@FM, when DIG working under him lied to the CM and PM, he did nothing, hence he should be discharged from the police.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:37am

@Nadeem Yousuf, if firing an incompetent man is a turn, let us all welcome it. Many more deserve such actions. Kudos to the government.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:40am

@MSD, correction of poor performance is not a mistake, but a sign of rational behavior. I applaud it.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:41am

@M. Saeed , the IG failed in his job, it has nothing to do with Buzdar. Foolish comment.

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fairplay

Apr 16, 2019 04:42am

@Nadeem Yousuf, you missed the hyphen.

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Raja Farhat Abbas

Apr 16, 2019 02:54pm

@Mumtaz Ahmed Shah, it wont effect your life as you don't live in Pakistan.!

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