Top cop removed over 'botched raid'

The Punjab government has removed SP Cantt Lahore Akhtar Nawaz from his post in the wake of the controversial police raid on the residence of the Attorney General, as authorities continue to take action against officers involved in the incident.

According to a notification issued by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Abdul Kareem on Thursday, Akhtar Nawaz (PSP/BS-18), who was serving as Additional SP Operations, Cantt Lahore, has been transferred with immediate effect and directed to report to the Central Police Office (CPO), Punjab.

Police sources told The Express Tribune that the officer was removed over alleged supervisory lapses linked to the July 27 raid, during which a police team from Sarwar Road police station mistakenly entered the Attorney General's residence.

The transfer comes a day after police registered a criminal case against Sarwar Road SHO Irfan and 11 other police officials for their alleged role in the incident.

According to the FIR, the police team was acting on information regarding the presence of suspected criminals at a neighbouring house. However, at around 6pm, the officials allegedly climbed over the main gate and entered the Attorney General's residence by mistake.

The FIR states that the police personnel allegedly harassed members of the household staff, damaged flower pots placed outside the residence and seized the house's CCTV digital video recorder (DVR).

The DVR was later returned after the recorded footage had allegedly been deleted.

The case has been registered under Section 155-C of the Police Order, 2002, following a departmental inquiry conducted by the then SP Cantt, which concluded that the officers had exceeded their lawful authority during the operation.

The SHO and the 11 police officials have been charge-sheeted, while the investigation has been handed over to the police investigation wing. The SHO has also obtained interim pre-arrest bail from a court.