LAHORE: The inspector general of police (IGP) has reshuffled 12 superintendents of police (SPs) of Lahore, making four of them officers on special duty (OSDs).

Those made OSDs included City Division SP Akhlaqullah, Iqbal Town investigation SP Rizwan Tariq, Sadar division SP Mohammad Imran and Model Town division operations SP Waqar Azeem.

SPs Akhlaq, Imran and Waqar were removed from their posts on the complaint of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, an official told Dawn.

The IGP transferred 43 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), most of them from Lahore. Of them, seven DSPs were made OSDs again on the complaint of the PTI leadership for their victimization of PTI leaders and workers during the previous government, the official claimed.

The official also claimed the actions recommended included termination or suspension of the ‘unwanted police officers’, which are being opposed by the top police bosses. The bosses say such actions would demoralize the police force. Consequently, the police officers were removed from the post only, the official source said, adding that the chief minister directed the IGP not to make the posting of these police officers in any part of the province “till further orders”.

The official claimed the transfer of SPs and DSPS of Lahore ‘in one go’ was a mistake to leave the provincial capital on the ‘inexperienced officers’.

In the past, he claimed, transfers and postings of such officers in Lahore on the political grounds used to be made in phases.

The official source claimed that the government was pressuring the IGP to take action against those police officers who used excessive force against its leaders and the workers ahead of its May 25 Azadi March.

Similarly, some police officers were marked for their controversial role during the by-elections of July 17 as they favoured the PML-N candidates.

There are reports, the official claimed, that the PTI leadership wants the removal of all the officials identified and other departmental actions against them.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2022