Amraiz Khan
Lahore
Inam Ghani has been appointed as the new Inspector General of Punjab Police. The notification came Tuesday, after Shoaib Dastagir was shown the door over his ongoing stand-off with Lahore Capital City Police Officer Umar Shaikh.
“Inam Ghani, a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan presently serving under the Government of the Punjab, is transferred and posted as Provincial Police Officer Government of the Punjab, in his own pay and scale with immediate effect and until further orders,” the notification from the cabinet’s Establishment Division read.
The development came after Prime Minister Imran Khan, in consultation with Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar, approved the removal of Dastagir as IGP.
The much-debated controversy came to a head today with a meeting of the Police Service of Pakistan Chapter where Sheikh offered to tender an unconditional apology to Dastagir.
Simultaneously, the issue landed in the office of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, who assured the police that he will listen to both parties.
In the meeting of police officials, chaired by Additional IGP Rao Sardar, Sheikh clarified his position on the ongoing controversy.
“I am ready to offer an unconditional apology to IGP Punjab. The IG is my commander and it is my duty to obey his orders,” the CCPO said, adding that he had not disobeyed any orders from him.
He said that the IGP had so far issued two orders which were implemented and whatever he said in a meeting of police officers was wrongly conveyed to the IGP. The meeting was also attended by Additional IGP Special Branch, Additional IGP CTD, and the former CCPO.
Meanwhile, CM Buzdar summoned IGP Dastagir and heard his reservations against the appointment of CCPO Sheikh.
According to sources privy to the meeting, the IGP told the chief minister that the CCPO had spoken against his command in a meeting and allegedly ordered police officers to not listen to the Punjab police chief. He also told Buzdar that the CCPO’s attitude may affect the morale of the police force.
The chief minister, confirming that a meeting with the IGP had taken place, had said that “the matter will be resolved today”.
He also said that he “calls favours for everyone, not any person in particular”. To a question, Buzdar said that he had not viewed any statement by either the CCPO or the IGP.
In a parallel development, Additional IG Finance Tariq Masood, in a letter sent to the Deputy Inspector General of Police headquarters, has said that he will not work under the newly appointed IGP.
“I request I be transferred immediately as the new IGP is my junior,” he said, adding that his leave application should be sent to the IGP until his transfer orders are completed. “I have worked in the police force with dignity and always upheld principles,” he added.
