Supreme Court (SC) while calling transfer and posting record of the last 8 years in respect of police officers from Punjab government and federation has maintained the performance of police command and criminal justice system is affected due to transfer of police officers persistently and without any reason.
The case regarding transfers in Police department Punjab under political interference came up for hearing before a 3-member bench of SC presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial here Wednesday.
The CJP remarked during the hearing of the case that police command and performance is affected due to persistent transfers of police officers.
As per data, the average term of DPO in Punjab is five months. During the last four years 268 DPOs were transferred.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked criminal justice system is affected due to transfer in police on political basis.
The counsel for the petitioner took the plea transfer and posting in police department on political interference is matter of public importance and basic rights. The transfers of police officers are made on political interference and influence. The transfer of DPO Layyah was also made on political basis recently. The news related to transfer of DPO Layyah made headlines in the media. The DPO Layyah was transferred under the orders from Chief Minister house on the interference of a local politician. Police resisted and eventually the lady DPO relinquished the charge. The average term of IG police in Punjab is 6 months which should be 3 years as per law. Hundreds of police officers were transferred without any reason during 4 years.
The CJP remarked the performance of criminal justice system is affected due to transfer of police officers without any reason. In this situation the trend to get high posts under political influence flourishes in the officers.
According to the counsel for the petitioner this matter is not only limited to Punjab.
He requested the scope of the matter be extended to federation and other provinces. Former IG Islamabad was very decent and educated officer. Former IG dealt with the matter of attack on Sindh House in befitting manner. He was also transferred.
The court while summoning police transfer and posting record related to last 8 years from federation and Punjab adjourned the hearing of the case for two weeks.
