ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan has assumed charge as inspector general of Islamabad Police on Friday, according to a notification issued by the government.
The 21-grade officer replaced former IG Islamabad Police Jan Muhammad after the Supreme Court withdrew its earlier verdict suspending transfer order of IGP Jan Muhammad.
The top court on October 29 suspended a notification about removal of the former IGP when it was informed that he was removed on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, expressed extreme displeasure over the removal of the IG Islamabad, saying the way he was sent packing is deplorable.
Attorney General Anwar Mansoor informed that the IGP was removed on the verbal directives of the prime minister.
Is this Naya Pakistan, asked the chief justice, adding the top cop was removed on a complaint of Federal Minister Azam Swati. If the IGP had committed any mistake, why was he not served a show-cause notice, questioned Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a member of the bench.
The chief justice had taken notice of the removal of IGP the same day and directed the interior secretary and the attorney general to appear before the court to explain as to why the IG was transferred.
He remarked the capital’s top cop was removed for political reasons and vowed that he would not let anybody put any political pressure and weaken state institutions this way.
The grade-20 officer of the Police Services of Pakistan (PSP) was removed and directed to report to the Establishment Division, according to a notification issued by the division on Saturday.
Published in Daily Times, November 3rd 2018.