Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday suspended the notification regarding the Islamabad inspector general of police transfer after he was informed by Attorney General Anwar Mansoor that Jan Muhammad was transferred on the “verbal orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan”.

The Supreme Court was hearing the case of the Islamabad IGP’s transfer after the top judge took suo motu notice.

During the hearing, the chief justice directed the interior secretary and the attorney general to appear before the court and explain as to why the Islamabad IG was transferred.

“I have heard the transfer was done on some minister’s order. The interior secretary should inform us why he was transferred,” Justice Nisar remarked.

“We have also heard the IG was removed because he refused to obey orders of a minister’s son,” Justice Nisar added.

Further, the top judge said, “We cannot tolerate political meddling in police. Governance of law should be maintained and we will not let our institutions falter.”

As Interior Secretary Azam Suleman appeared before the court, the chief justice expressed anger at him for not arriving on time and said, “We were informed that you have reached the court premises but as we started hearing the case you disappeared.” “Are judges required to wait for you?” Justice Nisar asked the interior secretary. “Tell us, why the Islamabad IG was transferred,” he added.

The interior secretary said, “No one informed me before transferring the Islamabad IG. The Establishment Division transferred him.”

Justice Nisar then remarked, “You did not even know and your IG was removed. You were not even asked.”

The chief justice then inquired, “Where is the establishment secretary?” The attorney general informed the court that he was heading a meeting regarding transfers of officials.

Justice Nisar then directed that the establishment secretary be asked to appear before the court.

After the establishment secretary appeared before the court, the attorney general presented a record of the Islamabad IG’s transfer. “The Islamabad IGP was transferred on PM Imran’s verbal orders,” the AG told the court.

“We will not allow the country to be run like this,” Justice Nisar asserted. “The country will not be run on somebody’s directions but as per the law,” he added.

Suspending the notification regarding the Islamabad IGP’s transfer, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till today. The court also directed the secretaries of interior and establishment to submit their affidavits and appear for today’s hearing.

On October 27, Islamabad IG Jan Muhammad was transferred and ordered to report immediately to the Establishment Division until further orders.

Pakistan People’s Party Senator Mustafa Khokhar claimed that the police officer was removed because he had refused to obey “illegal orders” of Federal Minister Azam Swati’s son.

According to sources, the IG was transferred after he refused action on a complaint by Swati’s son.

Swati’s son filed an FIR at the Shehzad Town Police Station against several for allegedly letting their animals into the former’s fields. On being stopped, the suspects attacked the employees with axes and also snatched weapons from the security guards and held them hostage, the FIR stated.a
The government came under fire in August over a similar issue, when a police officer was transferred after he stopped Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife, for over-speeding. The issue was eventually resolved after the Supreme Court took notice of the issue and Maneka apologised to the court.

Published in Daily Times, October 30^th 2018.