ISLAMABAD: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Islamabad Traffic Police Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer was posted out on Thursday, amid criticism on social media of alleged unprofessional attitude of its staff with motorists.

The police said Mr Tanveer was appointed as the SSP logistics Islamabad police. SP Mohammad Sarfraz Virk was appointed as the SSP ITP after his transfer from the post of SSP logistics.

Police officials told Dawn that Mr Tanveer had become the first officer to serve as the in-charge of three of the four core divisions - operations, traffic and logistics. He earlier served on different posts in the capital police, including SP Rural Zone, SP CIA, SP investigation, SSP operations in the last eight years.

During this period, he was posted out twice from the capital police for a short period of time; first during the 2018 elections and then in December 2021.

The officials said the performance of the ITP was decreasing gradually. Besides, there were a number of complaints against ITP officials over their unprofessional attitude towards motorists. Some videos showing the staff scuffling with motorists also emerged on social media recently which spoiled the reputation of the ITP, they added.

The ITP also faced criticism over closure of a number of u-turns and traffic signals. The traffic signals were closed on Srinagar Highway and “so-called” protective u-turns were made there, the officials said, adding it ensured the smooth flow of traffic, but put the lives of motorists entering the highway from link roads in grave danger.

On September 21, there was a scuffle between the ITP staff and a motorist at Super Market over the violation of one-way rule, the officials said. The man was later bundled into a police vehicle and shifted to the police station where they reached an agreement under which no one would take any action against each other.

A video also went viral on social media in which the ITP officials were seen manhandling a man with a woman pleading to spare him. Later, they bundled him into a police vehicle.

In another video viral on social media, a man alleged that the ITP staff intercepted him at Chungi No 26 without any reason. The man also alleged that the ITP staff humiliated him besides using extremely foul language against him.

When contacted for comments, in-charge Police Public Relations Branch DIG Headquarters Awasi Ahmed over the transfer of the SSP ITP amid criticism on social media and unsatisfactory performance, he replied: “seek reply from PRO.”

The PRO was also contacted but he gave no comments.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2023