By Shahzaib Shahzad
The federal and the Punjab governments on Tuesday locked horns over the transfer of Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mehmood Dogar from Punjab to the Establishment Division in Islamabad.
The federal government issued a notification and transferred CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, directing him to report to the Establishment Division.
“Mr. Ghulam Mehmood Dogar, a BS-21 Officer of Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving under Government of Punjab, is transferred to report to the Establishment Division, with immediate effect and until further orders,” read a notification issued by the Establishment Division on Tuesday. It is for the second time that Dogar is serving as the Lahore CCPO.
However, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi refused to relieve the CCPO and directed him to continue as the Lahore police chief. Elahi, in a statement, said the federal government was blinded by revenge, as Islamabad did not have the right to transfer police officers. The Punjab CM also termed this move illegal. “The federal government cannot remove CCPO Lahore or transfer him,” stated Elahi, asserting he would not accept any illegal activities of the federal government.
Punjab Home Minister Muhammad Hashim Dogar also said that the CCPO Lahore would continue to perform its duties until further orders from the Punjab government. He said the police officer would not report to the Establishment Division.
Punjab is ruled by a unity government of the PTI and the PML-Q, while the 13 parties’ alliance – the PDM and the PPP – led by the PML-N is in-charge of the federal government. Both sides indulge in the political war over multiple issues, including the transfer and posting of police and civil bureaucracy.
“Additional Inspector General Ghulam Mehmood Dogar will continue his duties as CCPO till the next order by government of Punjab and he will not report on establishment division,” tweeted Punjab Home Minister Col (r) Hashim Dogar.
Sources say the recent FIRs registered against PML-N leaders Javed Latif and Maryam Aurangzeb were the reason behind Dogar’s transfer. The cases were registered against the duo under terrorism charges. Dogar is also supervising the cases registered against different PML-N MPAs over the Punjab Assembly ruckus.
The PML-N-led federal government believes Dogar is behind the registration of cases, claiming the inspector general was against the registration of cases against both the leaders. Sources said the IG and the CCPO were in direct conflict over multiple issues.
The other reason behind his transfer orders, as per sources, was the dismissal of 12 FIRs against PTI leaders and workers. Those cases were registered during the party’s long march against the PML-N government allegedly for torturing police officials.
On July 29, the provincial government appointed Ghulam Mehmood Dogar as the CCPO Lahore, replacing Bilal Siddique Kamyana, who was transferred to the Centre soon after Parvez Elahi was elected the chief minister.
During his previous stint, Dogar – who is considered a thorough professional and an honest police officer – took strong action against criminal elements and also launched a massive crackdown on land grabbers.
