Rawalpindi cop dismissed over ‘negligence’

Inquiry finds ASI left his designated spot during visit of high-level delegation

RAWALPINDI:

An officer of Rawalpindi police has been dismissed from service following a departmental investigation for allegedly neglecting to perform his security obligations on the occasion of the arrival and movement of a high-level Chinese delegation to Pakistan.

According to details, strict security arrangements were made during a visit by a high-level Chinese delegation, including the deputy prime minister, at the end of July. The top Chinese official was awarded the status of a state guest.

On July 30, CPO Khalid Hamdani paid a surprise visit to the route points, including the New Islamabad Airport, to review the security duty so it surfaced that Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Haroon was missing from the point assigned to him as part of the special security duty.

Subsequently, while taking departmental action against the officer concerned, the CPO issued a charge sheet against him and appointed SP Headquarters Maham Khan as the inquiry officer who then summoned the ASI and asked him to record his statement.

During the inquiry, ASI Haroon stated that he was deputed on a special security duty at the Lahore hotel gate pocket and during the surprise visit, the CPO expressed indignation over the police personnel standing together.

“At this, I sent the personnel to their designated duty points, whereas I could not inform [the CPO] about my designated duty point due to which I was charge-sheeted,” he told the inquiry officer.

“I try to honestly discharge my duties and will keep working hard to do the same in the future as well,” he said, requesting the inquiry officer to file the charge sheet against him.

However, the SP Headquarters, in its findings, determined that the ASI concerned remained absent from his designated point at the Lahore hotel during the VVIP movement. “He was asked why he wasn’t available at the designated spot for the security duty of the aforementioned VVIP delegation, but he was unable to provide an appropriate explanation, which indicates that he was purposefully absent from the designated spot,” the inquiry findings suggested.

“Due to the VVIP movement, the trainee ASI was issued strong instructions to remain at his designated duty point, but he disobeyed the orders and continued finding reasons to leave,” it said. “This shows that he has been careless in carrying out his most important obligations, which is contrary to the departmental rules and regulations.”

The inquiry officer recommended a major penalty against the delinquent officer, saying the charges levelled against him in the charge sheet were proven. Following the recommendation, the officer was dismissed from service while awarding him a major punishment.

ASI seeks ‘justice’

Meanwhile, after being awarded the major penalty, an application, addressed to the Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) by the dismissed ASI, surfaced in which he levelled allegations against the CPO and the SP headquarters, seeking justice.

When The Express Tribune questioned ASI Haroon about his silence for around one and a half months following the event and his sudden levelling of the accusations after being punished for negligence, he said: “After testifying in the inquiry, I did not even imagine that I would be given such a severe punishment. I was expecting a censure etc.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2023.