Without ending political interference, police reshuffle useless: ex-top cops

Reshuffling the bureaucracy, especially senior police officers, every now and then, would prove to be a futile exercise unless political interference is brought to an end from the functioning of bureaucracy in general and police department in particular.

Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan made large-scale changes in the top ranks of Punjab Police and other departments. The decision to reshuffle senior bureaucrats came in the backdrop of reports of mal-governance in Pakistan's largest province including the rising crime rate, which has seriously raised questions about the efficiency of Punjab Police.

However, former top police officers believe the practice of transferring officers every few months is not the solution to the governance crisis. "PM must ensure that political interference is stopped in police affairs. Only then should he expect the police to deliver," former inspector general of police (IGP) Zulfiqar Cheema told Business Recorder.

"The political interference in police is alarmingly high right now. How can we expect positive results from police in this kind of situation," he said.

Officers who have been recently reshuffled should be allowed to continue in their new assignments without being transferred a few months later, he said adding "continuity is the key. Transferring any officer is the prerogative of the government but the officers should be given sufficient time to settle down and take control of the situation. Transferring them after every few months adversely affects their performance."

Another former IGP Afzal Shigri concurred. "Punjab Police is a force of 200,000 personnel. Reshuffling them after every few months is actually a recipe for disaster. The government may think reshuffling officers would end political interference but as a matter of fact, this is a negation of stability."

Shigri said, police should be given administrative autonomy and freedom to take action against the violators of law. "If police officials fail to deliver, then the government has the right to take action against them. There must be a solid reason and justification to transfer any police officer. The government is haphazardly transferring police officers without giving any reason."

New IGP Punjab Shoaib Dastageer is the fifth provincial chief appointed by the government in the ongoing year. After taking charge, he initiated large-scale reshuffle in the top ranks of Punjab Police and has transferred four regional police officers (RPOs), the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) and 19 district police officers (DPOs) on Friday.

The new IGP Punjab also surrendered services of six other police officers of basic scale (BS)-20, BS-19 and BS-18 from Punjab to the Establishment Division, Islamabad. Those six police officers sent to the Establishment Division include DIGs Dr Moeen Masood and DIG Operations CPO Captain Atta Muhammad (Retd) and SSPs Syed Ali Mohsan (awaiting posting), and Muhammad Maroof Safdar Wahla.

Services of two SPs, including Assistant Inspector General (AIG) gender crimes Punjab Maria Mahmood and Special Branch Punjab SP Shakir Mahmood Shahid have also been surrendered to Islamabad.