The ECP had ordered a sweeping reshuffle in bureaucracy including the police department, to allay politicians’ fear that partisan bureaucrats may influence the polling process. PHOTO: FILE
The police department is yet to comply with the orders of the Election Commission (ECP) to replace four superintendents of police (SPs) in the garrison city.
The ECP had ordered a sweeping reshuffle in bureaucracy including the police department, to allay politicians’ fear that partisan bureaucrats may influence the polling process. The provincial interim government had ordered reshuffling of top bureaucrats including police officers in the city.
However, the police department does not seem too concerned about impleming ECP’s orders, considering that there are are a little over two weeks to go before the election day. The delay in transferring the four police officers has triggered a wave of resentment among candidates, who have called the inaction an attempt at pre-poll rigging. Politicians have asked the election commission to take note of the matter.
The four police officers include Saddar Circle SP Waheedur Rehman Khattak, Potohar Town SP Haroon Joya, Rawal Town SP Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif and Central Intelligence Agency SP Haseeb Shah.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s joint candidate for NA-52, Raja Muhammad Basharat, said that in circumstances in which the ECP’s orders were openly defied, free and fair polls seemed impossible.
“Despite clear orders by the ECP, four SPs, executive district officers of education and health departments and officials in the revenue department have not been replaced,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has filed an appeal with the ECP demanding it take immediate notice of the matter. “You know well about the thana culture in our country. Police officials can easily influence the voting process,” said Rawalpindi district JI Naib Ameer Shamsur Rahman Swati.
“It is the prime responsibility of the caretaker government to implement the ECP’s orders in letter and spirit. In the presence of partisan officials, free and fair elections seem a distant dream,” he added.
Rahat Kazmi of the Awami Muslim League said transparent elections were only possible when non-partisan officers were deputed on key positions.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate for NA-50, Saddaqat Abbasi, alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz always relied on police and revenue departments to do politics. “The police department should immediately replace the four SPs with non-partisan police officers,” he demanded.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2013.
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