Shoaib Dastagir removed after alleged row with Lahore CCPO, Inam Ghani new IGP Punjab

Inam Ghani has been appointed the new Inspector General of Police for Punjab, in the latest development to arise out of an alleged dispute between the former IGP Shoaib Dastagir and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh.

According to the notice of appointment, issued by the Cabinet Secretariat Cabinet Divisi on Tuesday, Inam Ghani, a BS-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, "is transferred and posted as Provincial Police Officer (PPO) [...] with immediate effect and until further orders".

The development comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan, in consultation with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, approved Dastagir's removal from the post, sources told Geo News.

According to a separate notification, Dastagir will now serve as Secretary Narcotics Control, with the former secretary reassigned as the federal ombudsman.

Umar Sheikh will continue as Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).

Dastagir's removal is the sixth time the post of IGP Punjab has seen a reshuffling.

The much-debated controversy came to a head today with a meeting of the Police Service of Pakistan Chapter where Sheikh offered to tender an unconditional apology to Dastagir.

Simultaneously, the issue landed in the office of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, who assured the police that he will listen to both parties to the alleged dispute.

In the meeting of police officials, chaired by Additional IGP Rao Sardar, Sheikh clarified his position on the ongoing controversy.

“I am ready to offer an unconditional apology to IGP Punjab. The IG is my commander and it is my duty to obey his orders,” the CCPO said, adding that he had not disobeyed any orders from him.

He said that the IGP had so far issued two orders which were implemented and whatever he said in a meeting of police officers was wrongly conveyed to the IGP.

The meeting was also attended by Additional IGP Special Branch, Additional IGP CTD, and the former CCPO.

Meanwhile, CM Buzdar summoned IGP Dastagir and heard his reservations against the appointment of CCPO Sheikh, Geo News reported.

According to sources privy to the meeting, the IGP told the chief minister that the CCPO had spoken against his command in a meeting and allegedly ordered police officers to not listen to the Punjab police chief.

He also told Buzdar that the CCPO’s attitude may affect the morale of the police force.

The chief minister, confirming that a meeting with the IGP had taken place, had said that "the matter will be resolved today".

He also said that he "calls favours for everyone, not any person in particular".

To a question, Buzdar said that he had not viewed any statement by either the CCPO or the IGP.

Four priorities as new police chief

The newly appointed IG, speaking to Geo News, said that he would keep four matters on his priority list.

"Ensuring the rule of law and timely [reporting of] FIR will be a priority," Ghani said, adding that the next thing on his list would be to implement the government's policies.

Ghani said that among his list of priorities will also feature improving the standards of policing and ensuring police behaviour improves as well.

"Further improving the provincial police's performance will be a priority," the IG said.

Ghani said that being appointed as the Punjab police chief was not only an honour but also a challenge.

"I have served as the instructor of the police staff's college [...] I am aware of the intricacies of implementing the government's policies," he added.

'Changing IGP govt's prerogative'

Following the change in appointments, while speaking to Geo News, Dastagir denied he had expressed any reservations over the appointment of the Lahore CCPO and that Sheikh had violated the rules as he had spoken against a commanding officer.

"I had apprised CM Buzdar about my reservations with Sheikh's statement," he said, adding action should have been taken against the Lahore CCPO then.

"I couldn't continue work until disciplinary action was taken against the Lahore CCPO," he said.

Dastagir said that the matter in question was not of the CCPO's appointment but of the violation of rules.

The former IGP Punjab said that if action was taken in accordance with the law, then there wouldn't have been an issue. "Changing the IGP is the government's prerogative, I have nothing else to say."

Senior officer refuses to work under new chief

In a parallel development, Additional IG Finance Tariq Masood, in a letter sent to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) headquarters, has said that he will not work under the newly appointed IGP.

"I request I be transferred immediately as the new IGP is my junior," he said, adding that his leave application should be sent to the IGP until his transfer orders are completed.

"I have worked in the police force with dignity and always upheld principles," he added.

'Change of IGP Punjab will change police culture'

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication  Shahbaz Gill said that the changes in the Punjab police administration were aimed to bring a real change in the "thana" and police culture of the province.

He said that the government's decision to exercise discretionary powers to change the Punjab police chief came in the backdrop of the IGP failing to satisfactorily introduce the government's agenda of a people-friendly police department.

Speaking to Geo News, Gill said that Dastgir was given full control by the government to exercise his powers fearlessly in accordance with the law, but he could not deliver.

The premier's aide said the matter should be viewed from the perspective of the government policy rather than the individual's interest and working with discipline is the main code of conduct to be followed by personnels of all uniformed forces.

The alleged dispute

Last week, the Punjab government faced an unusual situation when the newly appointed Lahore CCPO was accused of speaking against the provincial police chief.

Sources told The News that Dastagir became upset when CCPO Sheikh allegedly told his subordinates that on any sensitive issue the Lahore police must seek his permission even if they received directions from the Central Police Office.

CCPO Sheikh told the newspaper that he was trying to meet the IGP but had not succeeded yet.

He also shared with the publication a WhatsApp message that he claimed to have sent to Dastagir apologising for what he called the “confusion” attributed to his statement, which was perceived as going against the provincial police chief.

Timeline of change of Punjab police chiefs 

Punjab has changed five IGPs to date, since the 2018 elections.

 *Data via the Punjab police website