LAHORE, Nov 27: The Punjab government on Tuesday ‘unceremonially’ removed the Okara district police officer as well as the SP Investigation from their offices reportedly on the ‘intervention’ of three provincial legislators.

Sources said in their meetings with the provincial chief executive, two PML-N and a Unification Bloc MPAs would tell the CM that the officers were favouring their political opponents in different cases. Sources in police however blamed the local politicians for getting the officers transferred for not getting personal favours.

The exit of DPO Usman Akram Gondal (who was not conveyed any solid reason about his unexpected transfer) just after four months of his posting sent a wave of shock and uncertainty among other district police officers who linked the sudden transfer with the upcoming general elections.

According to a notification, Mr Gondal was transferred and directed to report to the Central Police Office. Similarly, Okara SP Investigation Akhtar Ali Khan was also transferred and directed to report to the Central Police Office.

An informed source close to the development told Dawn that the three MPAs had initiated the move against Mr Gondal around a month ago and started complaining to the chief minister that the DPO was not cooperating with them in police matters.

He said the legislators, who earlier got removed previous DPO Dr Muhammad Abid for not entertaining their undue demands, again played the same role and got Gondal transferred.

He said two MPAs met the CM a few days ago and their front-runner finally convinced the provincial chief executive during their meeting Monday.

The source said another PML-N MPA met the chief minister in Lahore on Tuesday and again complained against the DPO upon which the CM directed the IGP to transfer the DPO.

He said the DPO had refused to extend ‘undue’ favours to the MPAs regarding postings of policemen and investigation in criminal cases.

The source further said though SP Investigation Akhtar Ali was sick these days, he was also made scapegoat.

Another source at the Central Police Office confided to this reporter that more DPOs would likely to be shown the door in days to come following the PML-N’s election strategy.

He claimed in some districts where by-elections had to take place on Dec 4, the DPOs had already been conveyed to muster support in favour of PML-N candidates.

Inspector General of Police Haji Habibur Rehman was not available for a comment. However, a senior police officer concerned speaking to Dawn admitted that the authorities didn’t find any shortcoming/complaint against Mr Gondal and the decision was purely taken on political grounds.