Siege in capital: Top cop sacked for soft mob response
PTI, PAT claim official was removed as he refused to crack down on marchers
ISLAMABAD:
The interior ministry on Thursday removed Inspector General of Police in Islamabad Aftab Ahmad Cheema and appointed Deputy Inspector General (headquarter) Khalid Khan Khattak in his place.
Speaking with The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said Cheema had been ‘unable’ to control the mass of people at the city’s main entry and exit points on Wednesday when the prime minister and parliamentarians were attending the National Assembly session. “He was asked to at least control the mob if he wasn’t ready to baton-charge them,” the officer said. The IGP had an estimated 40,000 security personnel at his disposal.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri alleged that the order to remove Cheema was issued after “he demanded a written order for taking action against the protesters…this is his only crime. What else could have caused his removal today?”
Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan also added to the speculation by claiming that Cheema had been removed by the government “because his conscience had awakened and he had refused to begin a crackdown against protestors.”
When PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ was announced, Cheema reportedly applied for and was refused a leave of four months, saying he wished to visit the US. At the same time, Commissioner Jawad Paul also applied for leave, which was rejected.
On Wednesday, the interior minister reportedly reprimanded the IG after police personnel complained they had been on duty for 16 to 18 hours at a stretch. The minister ordered that duties should be divided into three shifts, with eight hours each.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2014.
The interior ministry on Thursday removed Inspector General of Police in Islamabad Aftab Ahmad Cheema and appointed Deputy Inspector General (headquarter) Khalid Khan Khattak in his place.
Speaking with The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said Cheema had been ‘unable’ to control the mass of people at the city’s main entry and exit points on Wednesday when the prime minister and parliamentarians were attending the National Assembly session. “He was asked to at least control the mob if he wasn’t ready to baton-charge them,” the officer said. The IGP had an estimated 40,000 security personnel at his disposal.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri alleged that the order to remove Cheema was issued after “he demanded a written order for taking action against the protesters…this is his only crime. What else could have caused his removal today?”
Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan also added to the speculation by claiming that Cheema had been removed by the government “because his conscience had awakened and he had refused to begin a crackdown against protestors.”
When PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ was announced, Cheema reportedly applied for and was refused a leave of four months, saying he wished to visit the US. At the same time, Commissioner Jawad Paul also applied for leave, which was rejected.
On Wednesday, the interior minister reportedly reprimanded the IG after police personnel complained they had been on duty for 16 to 18 hours at a stretch. The minister ordered that duties should be divided into three shifts, with eight hours each.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2014.