Federal govt suspends CCPO

Decision follows Punjab cabinet’s move to remove IGP

LAHORE:

The federal government has issued orders of suspension of Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, deemed a blue eyed officer of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, after the Punjab cabinet moved for transferring Inspector General Faisal Shahkar.

Amid mounting political tension between the PTI and PDM, the Punjab government wanted to transfer IG Shahkar, while the federal government wanted him retained.

In case of Dogar, the centre had been exercising its powers to remove him from the position, while the provincial government had been vehemently resisting it.

A notification issued by the Establishment Division on Saturday read that Additional IG Ghulam Mehmood Dogar (BPS-21) had been placed her under suspension.

Orders of the CCPO’s transfer had been issued on September 20, reportedly after the federal government was annoyed with him over the registration of an FIR under blasphemy charges at Green Town police station against a federal minister and some PML-N leaders.

However, the Punjab government had refused to surrender his services.

According to sources, IG Shahkar, who had been appointed when PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz was the chief minister, had opposed the registration of politically motivated cases. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had held a meeting and a video was also released in which he had told the official that he would not let him go.

A warning letter was also issued by the Establishment Division on October 21 after approval from the prime minister, asking the CCPO to report to the federal division as an inquiry was pending. He was warned of initiation of disciplinary action if he did not comply with the instruction.

However, the Punjab government again refused to surrender his services.

After the attack on PTI chairman Imran Khan this week, the party and Punjab government were unhappy with IG over his role in dealing with the case, especially registration of the FIR and investigations related to the prime suspect. Some PTI leaders had openly expressed their apprehensions in this regard.

In a provincial cabinet meeting on Friday, many members expressed their wish to transfer the official. However, the Punjab government does not have the power to remove him.

It could only forward a panel of three names to the prime minister for the appointment of a new IG.

Meanwhile, the federal government was again infuriated with Dogar because Lahore police had taken no measure to stop PTI activists during the past few days despite emergence of a law and order situation at some points.

The suspension order was with immediate effect and till further orders.

A source shared that senior police officers were the employees of the centre, which exercised its powers in their appointment. He expressed fear that the tussle between both the governments over such issues was going to intensify.

However, an official claimed that Dogar might continue to work as CCPO as he had been sent to the province for service. As there is a procedure for the allocation, a similar manner has to be followed for recalling officials, the source added. He claimed that both moves could not be implemented without the approval of the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2022.