Daily Times

The Supreme Court on Monday summoned a report on political intervention in the affairs of police force in Punjab, with particular reference to the transfer of Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Rizwan Gondal following an alleged altercation with Khawar Maneka – the former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife.

The Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into the transfer of Pakpattan’s district police officer (DPO) and hinted towards summoning the chief minister of the province over alleged misuse of authority under Article 62(1)(f).

The apex court made Punjab inspector general of police in charge of the probe into political intervention in police affairs whereas the additional IG was made responsible to conduct an inquiry into misbehaviour by police personnel with Maneka’s daughter.

As the hearing into a suo motu case pertaining to the transfer of Pakpattan DPO resumed, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Kaleem Imam informed the court that he did not have the file containing the written orders of Gondal’s transfer. The chief justice then asked why action was not taken against Ahsan Gujjar. “Are you the guardian of the children?” Justice Nisar asked Gujjar, to which the latter responded that he was the unofficial guardian. He apprised the court that Maneka’s children were under pressure and a mutual friend had called him from Africa.

The chief justice then asked how Gujjar knew Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. “I am a [common] citizen,” Gujjar responded. Justice Nisar then said, “Do not lie in the court. How are you related to the [Maneka] children. Are you their paternal or maternal uncle?”

Justice Nisar remarked that people cannot summon police to their homes and insult them. Former Pakpattan DPO Gondal, who was also present at the hearing said Gujjar had questioned him over not executing the message he was sent. “Gujjar told me that during the British rule, the [Maneka] family’s properties were looked after by the deputy commissioner,” Gondal said.

After Gondal’s statement, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sahiwal appeared before the court and seconded the former’s statement. The top judge then remarked why Punjab CM had heeded a third party’s advice in the matter.

The Punjab IGP then informed the court that he had advised Gondal against going to the provincial chief minister’s house to which Justice Nisar expressed his anger. “You said that we work around the clock thereby the Pakpattan DPO was transferred at 1pm,” the judge remarked.

Moreover, the chief justice ordered the provincial police chief to show the written order of the transfer, to which the latter responded by apprising the court that the orders were in fact issued verbally.

Addressing the Punjab IGP, the chief justice noted, “You forgot my instructions. I had summoned all IGPs and advised them to free themselves from political pressures. The police should not work under political pressure and at the behest of rulers.”

The Punjab IGP then responded by saying that the DPO was guilty of not taking notice of misbehaviour with a woman. To this, Justice Nisar said that as a commander the Punjab IGP had displayed integrity, however he questioned the verbal transfer orders.

Following severe admonishment by the court, the Punjab IGP left himself at the mercy of the Supreme Court. He further apprised the court that he had to make a post-dated written order of the transfer. The chief justice then demanded the post-dated order, to which the Punjab IGP said that he did not have the file.

The chief justice further remarked that why Punjab CM should not be summoned and questioned. “People are blatantly lying in the court. The chief minister should be summoned and asked about his association with this matter,” he said. “Is the Punjab CM or other higher officials God? What steps are you [Punjab IGP] taking to protect the integrity of the police force,” the CJP asked. “We have just one mission which is to make the police force independent. The prime minister also issued a similar statement in this regard.”

Defending the steps taken by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Advocate General Punjab Shan Gul said the chief minister acted in line with tribal traditions. Justice Umar Ata Bandial stated that the country functions under laws and not on the norms of tribal society.

The bench also questioned the role played by an intelligence officer in the episode and warned the official for calling DPO Gondal after the incident.

During the hearing, Maneka narrated the incident of his daughter being stopped by ‘drunk’ police officials on the night of August 5. “My daughter was trembling due to the behaviour [of police officials],” he remarked.

Speaking at the rostrum, Maneka said a ‘conspiracy’ against his family could not be ruled out as the reason behind the chain of events. He claimed that the police check-post at which he was stopped in the second incident had not been seen there before. He also claimed that the first sentence the policemen uttered after stopping him was “Maneka sahib, step out of the car”. “How did the police know that I was travelling in the car?” he questioned.

The CJP assured him in response that the incident would be investigated from all angles. He also expressed remorse over police’s behaviour with Maneka’s daughter and apologised on behalf of the nation.

The CJP cautioned that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against DPO Gondal, in addition to a possible suspension, if it is proven that he failed to act in a timely manner after the mistreatment incident.

Published in Daily Times, September 4^th 2018.