SARGODHA, July 3: A power struggle between the acting regional police officer (RPO) and Sargodha district police officer (DPO) is still on after two weeks, leaving junior police officials in a confusion.

The tussle between the two police officials of equal rank started after acting RPO Ahmed Mukhtar Gondal held a meeting with sub-divisional police officers (SDPOs), station house officers (SHOs) and the low-ranked staff of key police stations and later transferred 14 SHOs, allegedly to weaken DPO Sheikh Muhammad Umer. Most of them were transferred out of Sargodha. But after some days, Gondal brought the transferred SHOs back to Sargodha, allegedly under political pressure. One of them is Azhar Abbas, who was transferred to Mianwali on April 26, but on May 3 he was verbally directed to report to Sargodha Police Line. Now Abbas is awaiting posting.

Junior police officials are unhappy with Gondal’s alleged misbehaviour. He allegedly rebuked Umer in the presence of two deputy superintendents of police and an exchange of words between the two ensued. Later, Umer ordered his subordinates not to obey Gondal’s order, alleging that he was ‘interfering’ in his affairs.

Gondal has started a campaign to improve the police’s working in Sargodha Range, but most of senior police officials are not happy with his style of dealing with his subordinates. He allegedly insulted a high-ranking police official when he tried to plead his innocence against accusations of corruption. He accused the official of illegally taking food from the Police Lines mess. Some police officials said Gondal was an honest officer, but he lacked the spirit of a good manager.

Gondal has the additional charge of superintendent of police (crime range) and the RPO and is enjoying the crowns of deputy inspector general while his original rank is of a senior superintendent of police.

Some police officials said that at least seven recently promoted deputy inspectors general (DIGs) were awaiting posting, but Gondal was made RPO instead of them. The decision irked DPOs of Sargodha Range, they said, adding that Gondal was enjoying full protocol, but depriving his subordinates of the same. He has allegedly directed SDPOs to stop using air conditioners in their offices on the ground that they were not entitled to this facility. Some officials criticised Gondal for using the elite force as his protocol staff, while others approved the step.

During a survey to have police officials’ comments on the power struggle between the RPO and the DPO, most officials said Gondal should not interfere in Umer’s affairs. They said that Gondal should consult Umer instead of taking direct action against junior officials.

On the other hand, some officials said Gondal took action against corrupt officials posted at various police stations because he thought they were close to Umer, but later he succumbed to the political pressure and cancelled the transfers.

Gondal has also served seven show cause notices on Umer during three weeks, asking him to explain his position on various issues. In one notice, Gondal asked Umer to explain why people were protesting against the Tehsil Municipal Administration and why did he not inform him about shortage of potable water in the area. In another notice, Gondal asked Umer to explain why a deputy superintendent of traffic police was not wearing a cap when he was dealing with the students of a vocational institute who burnt tyres on a road.

Dawn has also learnt that a committee dealing with transfer cases has not met for the last two-and-half-months allegedly because of Gondal’s lack of interest. Gondal has also curtailed the sealing of funds for police welfare, which was the sole prerogative of a committee consisting of Sargodha Range DPOs.

As Gondal is facing mixed response from his subordinates, Umer is struggling to keep his hold on his force. He has directed his office staff not to leave the office without his permission, while Gondal has ordered the staff to reach his office immediately whenever he calls them. As a result, junior officials are in confusion.