ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday carried out a major reshuffle in the top echelons of the police service, issuing notifications that changed the chief of the federal capital police, appointed the outgoing IGP as the director general of National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and posted the outgoing NCCIA head to the National Police Bureau (NPB).

The change in the capital police command is taking place at a time when the federal government is struggling to counter the upcoming sit-in of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) scheduled for September 27. Interestingly, IGP Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was on leave when the PTI was planning a nationwide movement on August 5 in connection with Imran Khan’s three years of incarceration.

Previously, Mr Rizvi had effectively tackled PTI’s protests not only on the roads but also in the courts as well. He restructured the haphazard prosecution branch of the police and converted it into a well-planned and progressive legal wing of the Islamabad police. The legal wing is handling around 100 cases registered in different police stations and pending in different courts of the federal capital related to PTI’s successive protests.

IGP transferred to NCCIA and retired Capt Mohammad Sohail named new police chief

At the same time, the newly-appointed IG Islamabad will face the challenge of PTI’s September 27 march at a time when he will be struggling to settle down in the new station.

According to the notifications, Mr Rizvi, a BS-20 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), presently posted as the IGP Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, has been transferred and posted as Director General NCCIA under the Interior and Narcotics Control Division. The appointment was made under Section 29(3) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, amended vide Section 6 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, and under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, with immediate effect and until further orders.

In his place, retired Capt Mohammad Sohail Ch, a BS-20 officer of the PSP presently serving under the government of the Punjab, has been transferred and posted as inspector general ICT police under the Interior and Narcotics Control Division.

Meanwhile, in a separate notification, Syed Khurram Ali, a BS-21 officer of the PSP presently awaiting posting in the Establishment Division, has been transferred and posted as Director General National Police Bureau (NPB) under the Interior and Narcotics Control Division.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the federal government has assigned the additional charge of the Secretary National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Division to Dr Mohammad Fakhre Alam Irfan, a BS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), presently posted as the secretary Power Division.

According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division on September 11, Dr Irfan will hold the additional charge for a period of three months or till the posting of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier.

Meanwhile, as many as 40 officials of the capital police have been transferred to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on deputation.

In this regard, a notification was issued from the office of the assistant inspector general of police, establishment.

According to the notification, the services of the officials of capital police are placed at the disposal of NCCIA Islamabad on deputation for an initial period of three years on standard terms and conditions.

The officials included six inspectors, 19 sub-inspectors, including three lady SIs, an assistant sub-inspector, two head constables and a dozen constables, including two women.

A police officer said 63 officials were selected for transfer to the NCCIA on deputation, but so far 40 of them have been transferred to the agency.

More officials from the capital police are likely to be transferred to NCCIA on deputation, he added.

On September 8, Director General Safe City Authority Islamabad Mohammad Haroon Joya was transferred to the NCCIA from the capital police after his services were placed at the disposal of Interior and Narcotics Control Division.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026