Another new Punjab IG

The government has appointed yet another police chief in Punjab, the sixth man installed as the province's top cop – or inspector general – in the PTI's two years in charge. Shoaib Dastgir, a grade-22 officer, has been posted as the secretary of the Narcotics Control Division while Inam Ghani, a grade-21 officer, has replaced him. The change came after the PTI recently appointed Umar Sheikh as CCPO Lahore – i.e. the top cop for Lahore – apparently without even taking Dastgir on board. The appointment issue was exacerbated by the fact that Sheikh reportedly made some disparaging remarks about Dastgir’s impending retirement before an assembly of cops. 

Despite reports that Sheikh later apologised while telling Dastgir that his remarks were taken out of context and all orders from Dastgir's office are being implemented, the IG asked Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to transfer him. Incidentally, reports suggest that Sheikh was appointed at Buzdar's request. The war of words also extended beyond high offices, with Dastgir telling a private TV news channel that Sheikh violated the rules by speaking against a commanding officer, and that Buzdar should have taken action against the CCPO when it happened.

Buzdar later defended the appointment of Sheikh by saying it is unacceptable for officers to reject the postings of others. Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz also chimed in, saying that such appointments are the prime minister's prerogative and that anyone creating hurdles in implementing orders would be removed. PM's special assistant Shahbaz Gill later tried to brand Dastgir as a failure. It seems Buzdar was trying to make it look like he sacked Dastgir because media reports had been suggesting that the CM was actually trying to convince him to stay on.

Meanwhile, both men's tough talk was challenged within a few hours. Soon after Ghani's appointment, Additional Inspector General Tariq Masood Yasin said he would not work under an officer who is his junior on the seniority list. He has also demanded a transfer. With all of this internal unrest, we must also point out that, at nine months, Dastgir was the longest-tenured IG Punjab since the PTI came to power. Let's see if Ghani can make it a year.