ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday asked the Establishment Division to propose a panel of officers to replace the capital police chief and deputy commissioner (DC), sources told Dawn.

In a letter to the establishment secretary, the secretary to the prime minister, retired Capt Mohammad Khurram Agha, stated that caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar wanted the Establishment Division to propose a panel of officers to replace the deputy commissioner and inspector general of police Islamabad.

The PM Office had approached the establishment secretary a day before the hearing of a case at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the replacement of the DC and IGP. The ECP also summoned the establishment secretary and asked him to appear on Tuesday (today) for failing to replace the DC and IGP.

On Dec 22, the ECP, in a letter to the establishment secretary, stated that the case regarding the replacement of IGP and DC Islamabad had earlier been sent to the Establishment Division but neither any action was taken nor a request made to review the order.

It is, therefore, desired that a report on the matter be forwarded to this commission, immediately, the letter said, adding that a case has been fixed for hearing on Dec 26 and the establishment secretary was required to appear in person before the ECP to explain the reasons for non-compliance of the orders.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2023