The game of police shakeups continues

At least 36 top cops transferred since Punjab’s 7th IGP took charge few weeks ago

LAHORE:

With the transfer of over three dozen police officers during the past few weeks since Punjab IGP Rao Sardar Ali Khan set foot into office, the province’s 7th police chief had belied his promises of against unnecessary transfers of police officers.

The appointment of the 7th IGP in the past three years had sent shockwaves of uncertainty among top and field officers of Punjab Police about their future. They had started packing their bags to move to their next position of posting keeping in view their experience with previous IGPs in office.

Each IGP’s removal was followed by massive reshuffles in the command of Punjab Police.

However, in his first appearance before media and senior police officers to share his set of priorities, the IGP had tried to rule out the possibility of reshuffle in the rank and file to remove any uncertainty about their future.

Ironically, he at the same time had expressed uncertainty about his own position. He had said that the transfers were a part of a police officer’s job. “I have not landed in as IGP after any specified promises or assurances from the government. During the time I am allowed to serve as IGP, I will try to stick to my priorities,” the provincial police officer stated.

Any confusion of having a sense of sustainability in office had been ruled out by the massive transfers in the past few weeks.

During the week, at least 43 senior police officers from the rank of grade 17 to 20 were transferred.

Read Massive reshuffle to jolt police dept

During the past week, at least eight DIGs, 22 SPs and 13 DSP rank officers were reshuffled across Punjab. The transfers included at least three district police officers and one city police officer.

Sources said a few more massive reshuffles within the provincial police department in the coming days were on the cards.

Since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government took over in Punjab, at least 12 massive reshuffles in the top brass of Punjab Police including the officers from the Grade 17 to Grade 22, had been introduced.

This means that on average, in every third month, a large number of senior police officers of Punjab Police were reshuffled.

This was severely opposed to Police Order (2002). The statutory law regulating police department in Punjab assured three years as tenure of posting on a position by a senior police officer.

A sense of security of tenure of position is mandatory for asserting an officer’s position as a commander, team formation and devising, executing a plan for crime fighting, service delivery or police reforms.

Police officers especially were criticised for being devoid and detached from ground. However, policing was very much close to ground realities and most action was taken on grass roots level.

Policing demands understanding ground realities to begin with. The understanding needed some reasonable tenures for all officers. However, the PTI-led government blindfolded with their shallow slogans of change were adamant on premature transfers of police officers.

Even in visual culture, the abrupt transfer of police officers was despised. The role of police evolves with time and develops gradually.

However, PTI-led government was neglecting it in real life scenarios by transferring police officers at its convenience.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2021.