LAHORE: In the run-up to the general elections have put the Punjab caretaker government in a fix due to mass transfers, making the assessment of officials’ credentials a daunting task before offering them postings, according to reports in the local media.
The major reshuffle at police station level is one such example as a majority of officials of “tainted” repute have been posted as station house officers in the provincial capital.
According to statistics available, 81 out of the total 84 SHOs recently appointed by the police high-ups in Lahore faced several suspensions or dismissals during their service. Many of them not only have criminal records, they also have “bad points” awarded to them in respect of serious nature complaints against them.
The provincial capital police had received nearly 200 police inspectors from other districts, divisions and regions to serve in Lahore as SHOs and heads of investigation wing at police station level ahead of general elections.
From amongst them, 84 inspectors were shortlisted and appointed as SHOs, by police authorities, the official documents said.
Capital Police Officer (CCPO) BA Nasir defended his position saying that since the percentage of awarding departmental punishments to the field force is unprecedentedly high, the senior police management has limited choice to shortlist cops having ‘spotless’ record to give important assignments.
“Presently, above 60,000 police officials (upper and lower subordinates) of the total Punjab police were getting major and minor punishments every year,” the CCPO said adding that since the percentage was tremendously high, the availability of ‘honest’ police officials has appeared to be a challenging task for the high-ups.
Despite that, Nasir said that they did their best to shortlist best of the best from amongst the 200 inspectors provided to the Lahore police to post them as SHOs and in-charge investigation.
For this purpose, he had constituted a committee of 10 SPs, besides operations SSP to shortlist best available officials.
Operations DIG Shahzad Akbar headed the committee which worked hard day and night, held a series of interviews and shortlisted SHOs keeping in view their previous record.
All this was done within a limited time the CCPO said adding that the appointments were made after getting approval from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
On the other hand, the official documents unveiled many interesting facts. Of the total SHOs posted in Lahore, 31 have faced suspension for more than five times while five others for more than 10 times during their service.
The documents said 19 SHOs posted at many important police stations of the city had criminal records.
The Civil Lines Police Station has been rated as most sensitive one among many others in the provincial capital for housing several important government offices including Chief Minister Secretariat, Governors House, etc.
The newly-appointed inspector heading this police station as SHO was having four criminal records besides facing five-time suspensions and two-time dismissal.
In an important official practice, the police officials are awarded “good and bad points” to prepare their service record before considering them for important assignments.
The Civil Lines SHO secured “41 bad and 11 good points” as mentioned against his service record in the documents.
Similarly, five newly-appointed SHOs in the city have been dismissed from service for more than 10 times during their professional career.
Many other SHOs have similar situations.
According to the documents, out of the total 84 newly-appointed SHOs, only three of them had ‘clean’ service records with no suspension and dismissal.
The CCPO was of the view that the best solution to make available ‘honest’ and ‘spotless’ police officials in the field was to revisit the policy of awarding them major departmental punishments on “minor complaints.”
He said for the last four years or so, the number of cops appointed against field postings who secured departmental punishments remained above 60,000 annually.