The head of the Punjab Commission for Police Reforms, Nasir Khan Durrani has resigned from his post in reaction to the premature transfer of Punjab police chief, according to media reports.
Nasir Durrani, who served as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general (IG) of police before his retirement, was appointed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to reform and steer the Punjab police department out of political interference.
A former police officer has claimed that Durrani had reservations over the transfer of Punjab IG Tahir Khan. However, there are also reports that he has resigned over health problems.
According to reports, Durrani expressed his disappointment over IG Khan’s transfer without taking him into confidence. Given the special task to bring reforms in Punjab Police, Durrani was assured by Prime Minister Imran Khan that his government would not use its political influence in the law enforcement.
Earlier in the day, the PTI government had issued a notification regarding appointment of Amjad Javed Saleemi as the new inspector general of Punjab.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), however, suspended the notification after the ECP had barred the government from making any postings and transfers in the wake of the by-election, scheduled for October 14.
The commission also sought a report from the secretary establishment within two days.
Moreover, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Tahir Khan was removed as Punjab police chief as his performance was not satisfactory.
Speaking at a TV show, the federal minister said that the PTI came into power under the mandate of bringing change and reforms. “We want to deliver justice to the victims of Model Town incident,” he said, adding that Punjab IG’s performance, however, was not such that he could be kept on the post.
“We have given a clear message to the bureaucracy that we want work done,” Chaudhry said. “In the present government’s tenure, only those who perform will continue to serve on their positions.”
Bureaucracy is answerable to the prime minister, the minister said, adding that Khan did not fulfill the tasks given to him, prompting his transfer.