LAHORE: The Punjab police department’s ‘dual’ policy for the accountability of the officers from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) and the rankers — two distinct streams of entry and promotion — continues to take heavy toll on the provincial cadre. This disparity became evident from the recent handling of two separate complaints: one against a Grade 18 officer from the provincial cadre posted in Lahore, and another against a Grade 19 PSP officer serving in Rawalpindi.

Both the officers faced almost identical allegations of harassment and illegal detention.

Lahore Saddar Division Investigation SP Mian Muazzam was suspended by the newly-posted Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab in light of the findings of a high-level inquiry report issued a few days ago.

On the other hand, the IG office regretted the request of a complaint he filed against the PSP officer - Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Hamdani - for an inquiry to be launched by a senior police officer serving in the Central Police Office (CPO) Lahore.

Inquiry against ranker proceeds swiftly, complaint against PSP officer hits roadblocks

A senior police official said the application of the complainant-in-question has been sent back to the Rawalpindi Regional Police Office (RPO). Interestingly, he said, Mr Hamdani was currently holding the additional charge of the RPO Rawalpindi and the application was marked for the inquiry to his junior police officer.

The entire process of handling the complaint for inquiry against the PSP officer revealed the procedural lapses.

Finding the IGP’s office unresponsive, the affected citizen approached the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab, filing a written complaint seeking proceedings against the CPO Rawalpindi.

The ACE Punjab also declined his request to initiate an inquiry against the PSP officer, leaving him shocked when he found out that two major provincial platforms were unwilling to investigate the CPO.

“We can’t proceed against the CPO Rawalpindi as he is a Grade 19 officer, and the ACE requires approval from the Punjab chief minister to launch action,” Punjab DG ACE Sohail Zafar Chatta told Dawn.

In response to a question, he said under the procedure, the chief minister is the competent authority to order an investigation into Grade 19 officers and above in such matters. The source claimed that the Punjab government through an ordinance in 2024 had restricted the powers of the DG ACE to initiate FIRs against the government officers of Grade 19 and above. The ordinance later lapsed in February 2025, restoring the powers of the DG ACE to initiate investigations and register cases against the Grade 19 government officers and above without needing prior approval from the chief secretary or the chief minister.

Commenting on the apparent selective approach in these two cases, the official source said PSP officers dominate top decision-making and command positions, while rankers often handle ground-level operations.

Referring to the Lahore case, the official said Green Town police registered a kidnapping case against a couple living in Sargodha district some months ago. The Lahore police investigated the case using traditional methods - something reflected in a video clip uploaded on social media by the couple. In the video, they alleged that police officials detained and harassed their parents and other family members who had nothing to do with the kidnap charges. They claimed the police conducted frequent ‘illegal’ raids, at the residences of their family members and other and warned they would opt for suicide if the practice was not stopped immediately. The official said that no one took notice of the couple’s complaints. They later uploaded another video clip on social media just minutes before allegedly taking their own lives in January 2026.

The incident prompted Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to constitute a fact-finding inquiry panel comprising the then additional IG (Special Branch) Abdul Kareem and other officers. During the inquiry, the official said, allegations of illegal detention of the deceased couple’s family members and harassment were found to be true. The inquiry report also noted that the Lahore Saddar Division Investigation SP attempted to mislead the investigators regarding the couple’s allegations. In light of the report, the SP was suspended from service and Abdul Kareem, who recently assumed charge as IGP Punjab, issued a formal notification to that effect a few days ago.

Regarding the other complaint, the official source said the victim, Faiz Ahmad, a resident of Dream Garden, Lahore, filed complaints with both the IGP office and ACE Punjab against the Rawalpindi CPO. According to the complaints — copies of which are available with Dawn — Faiz Ahmad had a monetary dispute with a relative in Rawalpindi. He alleged that his business partner misused three of his security cheques, filled in amounts himself, and filed an application against4 him with a Rawalpindi police station alleging that the cheques got bounced. During the initial inquiry, he said, his rival failed to produce evidence of a money trail linked to the cheques, and the application was disposed of.

Meanwhile, the CPO Rawalpindi transferred the SHO of the concerned police station and posted a new officer. Faiz alleged that the newly-posted SHO reopened the inquiry and summoned him to the police station with relevant records. When he arrived with his son, the SHO allegedly blindfolded him and shifted him to a nearby building on the orders of the Rawalpindi CPO. The complainant alleged that he was kept in illegal custody there for about two days, while his young son was left in a traumatic situation. During custody, Faiz said, the SHO pressured him into signing multiple cheques and returned the previously misused cheques to him. He further alleged that the SHO later released him, and that the CPO misused his authority by obtaining his signatures on the cheques through the SHO during the period of illegal detention.

The IGP did not respond to calls and text messages.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026