LAHORE – In stark contrast to its claim of depoliticising the police, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seems unable to achieve its goal as its government in Punjab province is found involved in different controversies pertaining to preferred transfers and appointments in the police department.
A senior journalist Amir Mateen claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who had recently tendered an apology in the Supreme Court in DPO Pakpattan Rizwan Gondal transfer case, has appointed his uncle Amir Taimoor Buzdar as District Police Officer in Bahawalpur, the biggest district of the province.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/sc-orders-cm-buzdar-former-ig-punjab-to-submit-written-apologies-in-dpo-pakpattan-case/
He went on to say that the appointment was made in the violation of the rules as Amir Taimoor is a ranker of 18th grade in the police department, adding that the apex court had recently demoted the rankers. This move has raised eyebrows over the transparency, he said.
‘Rankers’ refers to police officials who are hired either as assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), sub-inspectors (SIs), inspectors or DSPs and are then promoted’.
PSP Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officers, on the other hand, join the force after clearing the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations and are hired as assistant superintendents of police (ASPs). Once a ranker reaches grade 18, however, he also becomes a PSP officer.
https://twitter.com/Liaqyat/status/1057133193311207424
Shattering the claims of ending political involvement in the police affairs, the journalist added that the appointment of Buzdar’s uncle was made during a recent interview process in which a panel comprising CM Buzdar, his secretary, chief secretary, home secretary and IGP conducted interviews of candidates for different postings in Punjab.
He hinted that Buzdar’s presence in the meeting showed political interference, adding that Speaker Punjab Assembly Pervaiz Elahi also got his blue-eyed appointed in the police department.
The PTI has been used boasted about his KP police model where the then IGP Nasir Durrani made transfers and posting without political interference, he said, adding that the government should give such kind of powers to police in Punjab.
