Islamabad police face leadership crisis

Junior officers are promoted to senior positions, leaving key roles vacant

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Police Department has become a haven for junior officers, with numerous senior officials sidelined. This shift has led to a shortage of officers in the federal capital, leaving senior positions such as DIG Security and SSP Investigation vacant. To compensate, additional charges have been assigned to SPs, and two ASPs have been given the responsibilities of SPs. Despite their seniority, junior officers are being awarded additional roles.

Sources within the police department have told The Express Tribune that other senior officers are reluctant to join the Islamabad police. Officers from DIG to SP are currently holding positions with additional charges.

DIG Operations Ali Raza, a Grade 19 employee, reportedly holds a higher grade charge. Senior officers in Islamabad are reportedly unwilling to work under Ali Raza since his appointment as DIG.

Similarly, SSP Operations Arsalan Shahzaib is also holding an additional grade charge. The trend of assigning additional charges to SPs and DSPs has become prevalent, with Shehzad Akbar now appointed as SP City. Junior officer Ali Raza, in particular, has been given two significant positions despite his rank. He is now serving as both Industrial Area SP and Dolphin SP.

Additionally, DSPs in Islamabad are being promoted to SP roles, with DSP Hakeem Khan receiving an SP charge. This preferential treatment of juniors over senior officers has raised concerns among the senior ranks. Former SSP Operations Mustafa Tanveer and Malik Jameel Zafar have not been assigned any important roles in the Operations Division.

Sources indicate that former DIG Headquarters Hassan Raza and other officers were unwilling to work under the current IGP. The discontent has also extended to the rank and file of the police, with dissatisfaction among DSPs, SHOs and other personnel regarding DIG Ali Raza's management.