ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of the capital police are running from pillar to post for their promotion before they reach the age of superannuation.

But officers belonging to the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) are allegedly delaying the process to constitute the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for their promotion to the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP), it has been learnt.

There are 11 posts of DSPs available in the police but the files of inspectors waiting for promotion to the rank of DSP are shuttling from one officer concerned of the PSP group to another.

As many as 22 inspectors are eligible for the promotion and some of them will soon reach the retirement age.

Despite vacant posts of 11 DSPs, files of inspectors waiting for promotion are being sent from one PSP officer to another

Due to the delaying tactics to promote the inspectors, the promotion of officials from the ranks of sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable are also affected.

Last year, senior PSP officers deprived an official of his right to promotion by initiating an inquiry against him when only a month had left for his retirement, said sources in the police.

DSP Ashraf Shah retired from the police in January this year after serving in the force for over 30 years. He was among three police officers who approached court after they were denied promotion despite availability of seats. The court gave decision in their favour.

There has always been a tug of war between the PSPs and the ex-carder officials of the police over the quota of grade 17 and above posts. As per the quota last year, seven DSPs had to be promoted to the rank of SP but cases of only five DSPs were sent for promotion.

An inquiry was initiated against DSP Shah after he approached court seeking promotion. In the inquiry he was accused of conducting a doubtful investigation in a murder case. But the sources said the investigation was conducted by the Homicide Unit and the Crime Investigation Agency not by Mr Shah as he was the subdivisional police officer of Shahzad Town circle.

During the DPC proceeding in December, one of its members said Mr Shah had only one month left for retirement and his promotion should be considered. However, the other members disagreed, the sources said.

Inspector General of Police Islamabad Mohammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan after assuming the charge in Nov 2018 had said new induction and promotion would be made in the police soon. He had also said the long-awaited promotion of the DSPs would be initiated and cases would be sent to the authority concerned within a week.

During the last two decades, only three IGPs ensured promotion of the officials from grade 17 to 19. Former IGP Tahir Alam Khan was the first who made efforts to promote DSPs and later recommended their inclusion in the PSP group also.

Another ex-IGP Tariq Masood Yasin also made efforts and as a result faced resentment from his subordinates belonging to the PSP group, the sources added.

Ex-IGP Dr Sultan Azam Temuri also made such efforts but his subordinates from the PSP group ignored his directions.

When contacted, IGP Aamir Zulfiqar told Dawn that the process to promote DSPs was in progress.

Police spokesman Khalid Awan added that soon a request would be made to the chief commissioner to approach the interior ministry for constituting a board for promotion cases.

In reply to a question, the spokesman said an inquiry had been ordered against a DSP so his case was not sent to the DPC for promotion.'

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2019