ISLAMABAD: Differences have cropped up between the capital police chief and his deputy over transfer and posting of officials, sources told Dawn.

They said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akbar Nasir Khan barred Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Syed Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari from making any reshuffle in the operations division and asked him to act only as a supervisory officer.

The sources said that in August DIG Bukhari had posted seven new station house officers (SHOs) in place of ones appointed by IGP Khan when the latter was on leave and had gone abroad to meet his family.

Upon his return, he found the seven SHOs appointed by him transferred. The IGP showed his displeasure and posted out all the SHOs appointed by the DIG.

Differences emerged in August when DIG removed seven SHOs appointed by IGP in his absence

The IGP also issued a standing order and clarified the roles of the operations division.

The order stated that Islamabad is one district and the role of Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) - IGP - had been defined in Police Order 2002 which was in force in Islamabad.

According to Article 10, 11 and 27 of the Police Order 2002, administration of police in a general police area vest with the ICCPO. Moreover, ICCPO shall exercise such powers and perform such functions and duties and shall have such responsibility as may be provided by or under the Police Order 2002 and any other law from the time being force.

The capital police officer (DIG) operations is a supervisory officer to monitor the performance of these specialised branches of the operations and investigation wings and has to report to ICCPO in all relevant matters, the order said, adding the SSP operations shall exercise the power of the district police officer for operational purposes.

The SSP operations and the SSP investigation shall notify posting of officer incharge police station(s) and incharges of investigations, units, teams, where applicable. In case of any disagreement, the directions of ICCPO will be solicited.

In June, a tug-of-war between the two senior officers started when the IGP wanted to promote his blue-eyed ASI to the rank of sub-inspector who was served with a show-cause notice by the SSP. As a result, his promotion was deferred, the sources added.

The IGP approached the DIG and asked him to withdraw the notice issued to the SI; however, the latter ignored the request.

Talking to Dawn, a senior police officer said the IGP promulgated the Police Order 2002 in Islamabad last year even though parliament was yet to pass it before approval by the President. As a result, no notification has been issued by authorities concerned, including the ministry.

In June, differences between the then Islamabad chief commissioner and the police chief over the rules governing the police also emerged after the former approached the Ministry of Interior to intervene and settle the matter, the sources said.

The chief commissioner office had requested the interior ministry to issue instructions regarding the observance of the law, policy and procedures. It was also requested that decisions of the IGP without observance of the law may be declared null and void.

In February, the IGP appointed Awais Ahmed as the DIG operations under the Police Order 2002. However, the very next day the then chief commissioner named Mr Bukhari, a grade-19 officer, as the DIG operations, which is a grade-20 post under the police rules.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2023