LAHORE, Nov 29: Police authorities had to face embarrassment after two officials refused to assume the charge of Lahore Saddar SP (Operations).

The post has been lying vacant for the last 36 days and notifications of three officers have so far been cancelled, police record says.

Former Okara DPO Usman Akram Gondal and SP Haji Khalid Masood refused to take the charge on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Mohammad Habibur Rehman transferred and posted two police officers.

According to a notification issued on Thursday, SP Usman Akram Gondal, who was awaiting posting, has been transferred and posted Punjab Elite Police Force Deputy Director Monitoring while Gujranwala Region SP Legal Mumtaz Ahmad has been transferred and posted Nankana Saheb SP Investigation against existing vacancies with immediate effect.

Sources at the Central Police Office told Dawn that the provincial police chief cancelled the previous notification of Mr Gondal as Lahore Sddar SP (Operations) after the officer, transferred from the post of Okara DPO reportedly on political grounds by the Punjab government, refused to work as divisional SP.

Sources said on behalf of the IGP, the DIG Headquarters office then contacted SP Haji Khalid Masood, who is currently on ex-Pakistan leave, for his joining and posting in Saddar division, but he also refused.

Sources said Mr Masood reportedly showed his interest in the post of Lahore City SP Investigation which will also fall vacant in a week or so.

Sources further said no officer either from the ranks or PSP was apparently ready to serve in the Saddar division after at least three officers (associated with different issues and inquiries) were transferred from the post un-ceremonially by the authorities in the past.

There were reports that SP Masood was verbally conveyed by the IGP to hold the charge, but neither any notification was issued by the DIG (Headquarters) office nor the SP assumed the charge on Thursday.

DIG (Operations) Muhammad Tahir Rai confirmed that no officer had been posted as Saddar SP (Operations) and the charge was with the Saddar SP (Investigation).