MNA Raja Riaz denies Tareen group’s role in transfer of DPO Lodhran

• MNA Raja Riaz says Jahangir Tareen group did not ask for removal of DPO Lodhran.
• A media report says JKT group members had asked CM Buzdar to replace him.
• A 'junior' officer has been appointed DPO Lodhran.

LAHORE: A top leader of the Jahangir Tareen group denied on Monday any role in the transfer of a senior police officer in Lodhran which created a controversy among political circles.

According to a Dawn.com report, DPO Lodhran Karrar Hussain Syed has been transferred and a ‘junior most’ police officer of grade 18 hailing from DG Khan has replaced him to please the JKT group.

Talking to Geo News Monday, National Assembly member Raja Riaz rejected media reports saying the police officer was not transferred on their request.

Riaz said that this is a routine matter and an internal issue of the police department and they did not pressurise the Punjab government for this.

While responding to a question about a junior officer given the charge of the Lodhran district police officer, the MNA said the Punjab police should be questioned on this.

"Transfer, posting in any department should be based on merit," he added

The newspaper report stated that the replacement of Karrar was “one of the top demands” of the JKT group MPAs when they met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar last week.

“Part of the Tareen camp team, two MPAs reportedly told the CM that Karar Husain Syed was not resolving their local issues,” the report added.

According to the report, the appointment of the DPO had been a bone of contention and he, on the first day of his posting in Lodhran last year, was reportedly asked ‘not to assume charge of the post’ as the Punjab government had not consulted Tareen before appointing him.

However, then IGP Shoaib Dastgeer “directed Karar to follow the department decision and assume charge”.