Over a dozen Punjab Police officers reshuffled
PHOTO: FILE
As many as 13 senior police officers including the Central Police Officer (CPO) Gujranwala, and DPO Attock have been transferred on the second day of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the new Punjab chief minister.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Punjab Police (IGP) Faisal Shahkar has sought details of police use of force against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to stop from the long march towards Islamabad from CCPO and regional police officers.
The transfer of orders of a key post of CPO Gujranwala SSP Ejaz Ahmad and DPO attack SSP Umar Farooq Salamat have been issued by the Services and General Administration Department- an unusual practice.
IG Punjab exercised the powers of the transfer and appointed the officers from the rank of DSP, ASP (BPS 17) to SSP (Grade 19). The transfer orders of the officers of grade 20 and above were issued by the Punjab chief secretary. However, in the case of transfer of SSP Rai Ejaz Ahmad and SSP Umar Farooq Salamat, both grade 19 officers, have been issued by Chief Secretary Punjab not IG Punjab.
Ejaz Ahmad is considered to be close to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) due to his family background. Reportedly, his close family member has even contested elections from the PML-N ticket.
Ejaz Ahmad served as Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), another lucrative post, during the tenure of Shahbaz Sharif as Chief Minister Punjab.
After the interim government was set up, he was even arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption scandal. As Hamza Shahbaz took charge of the position, Ejaz is among the first police officers to be deputed at key positions.
The other transferred police officers included 10 DSPs (grade 17 officers)- seven from Faisalabad District- the home town of PML-N Leader and Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Another important posting, SP Sadar Faisalabad was also made on the day. Shamsul Haq, a grade 18 officer currently posted at CPO Punjab was transferred and posted in District Faisalabad.
After the transfer of police officers, the transfer of RPOs, CPOs and DPOs is expected.
Police sources said several police officers have been excused from posting for IG Punjab, RPO, CCPO and DIG after being contacted.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2022.