Ostensibly to ‘avenge’ police action to stop a long march of Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) towards Islamabad on May 25, the Punjab government transferred as many as 12 SPs and 43 DSPs of Lahore on Saturday night.
The orders were released after PTI chief Imran Khan concluded its public meeting in Lahore Hockey Stadium.
Starting from transfer of Bilal Siddique Kamyana from the post of the CCPO on the first day of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as Chief Minister, and with the latest transfers, the whole city police command down to the SHO rank has been reshuffled.
According to some reports, the moves are aimed at making an example of those involved in torture on May 25.
Punjab Home Minister Hashim Dogar tweeted on Saturday, “A process of accountability has been started regarding the May 25th incidents on the orders of the Punjab Chief Minister. I have sought progress reports from the other districts also.”
PTI chairman Imran Khan had publicly warned, after his removal from the PM office, that he had been noting down the names of the officers invovled in the use of force against his party’s activists.
Four days back, Dogar had said, “The competent authrority has suspended 25 SHOs and an inquiry according to law has been initiated against them”.
Over a week ago, new IG Faisal Shahkar had issued an order to all the field officers throughout Punjab to share the details of the police action on May 25.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2022.
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