Rift in police command deepens

The rift in the top brass of Lahore Police has deepened as SP CIA Asim Iftikhar was transferred after an exchange of harsh words with CCPO Umer Shoib Sheikh while DIG Investigations Lahore Shahzada Sultan issued Iftikhar a letter of appreciation on his performance.

Sheikh had ordered his arrest and registration under section 155-C of Police Order (2002). On the other hand, Sultan’s letter appreciated him as a professional, seasoned and committed officer and “rightly identified by the department to arrest the most wanted criminal” Abid Malhi. Sultan had also mentioned in the letter that the purpose of the issuance of the letter was to bring it in the official record.

Interestingly, the letter has been forwarded to the office of CCPO Lahore also. The content of letter read as, “It is indeed a matter of pleasure to me that the team constituted under your able command to trace out and arrest Abid Malhi and Shafqat involved in a horrible case of dacoity-cum-gang rape at LahoreSialkot Motorway FIR No 1369/20 dated 09.09.2020 u/s 427/392/376- II PPC and 7 ATA PS Gujjar Pura, Lahore finally accomplished the task and earned a good name in the public eye.

“Shafqat was traced out and arrested on 14.09.2020 but the other accused Abid Malhi had gone underground and to locate his hideout and arrest had become a challenge for the department. It was a high time to choose a professional, seasoned and committed officer and assign the challenging task. You were rightly identified by the department.

You played a pivotal role in the operation and unearthed and arrested the most wanted criminal. The government as well as media appreciated your success. The undersigned desired to bring it on record. I hope that you will continue to meet the challenges in future also”. The notification issued by the Punjab Police stated that Iftikhar has been posted as SP Headquarters, Punjab Traffic in Lahore.

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The notification has been signed by Punjab Inspector General of Police Inam Ghani. CCPO Umer Shoib Sheikh had called in a meeting at Punjab Safe City Authority Lahore (PSCA) office. However, SP CIA Asim Iftikhar reached late. He explained to Sheikh that he was not feeling well. CCPO was infuriated and censured him.

When he pressed him further and ordered his arrest, Iftikhar also turned aggressive and intimidated him with a physical assault. The other senior officers present in the meeting intervened and tried to pacify the situation. Sheikh issued orders of his arrest, registration of case and also taking back the pricks and privileges from him.

He also asked for his removal from the post. Later the arrest and registration of FIR cases were withdrawn. After Umer Shoib Sheikh took charge as the CCPO, his posting has been marred with conflicts and controversies with the officers and subordinates. In his first meeting as CCPO, he had given comments against then IGP Shoib Dastgir.

The former IGP was so annoyed that he complained against the CCPO before Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab chief minister. However, his grievances were not addressed and he was replaced with new IGP Inam Ghani.

Afterwards, he had registered an order of arrest and registration of FIR against Inspector Raza Jaffery former Baghbanpura SHO for illegal detention of few citizens a year back. A sub-inspector had resigned after CCPO had abused him during a meeting. A head constable of DSP Baghbanpura had also lodged a complaint against him before the IGP. Former Admin SSP Liaqat Malik was also reportedly transferred after an altercation with CCPO.