Shoaib Dastagir removed, Inam Ghani appointed new IGP Punjab
Inam Ghani has been appointed the new Inspector General of Police for Punjab, in the latest development to arise out of an alleged dispute between the former IGP Shoaib Dastagir and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh.
According to the notice of appointment, issued by the Cabinet Secretariat Cabinet Divisi on Tuesday, Inam Ghani, a BS-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, "is transferred and posted as Provincial Police Officer (PPO) with immediate effect and until further orders".
The development comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan, in consultation with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, approved Dastagir's removal from the post, sources said. According to a separate notification, Dastagir will now serve as Secretary Narcotics Control, with the former secretary reassigned as the federal ombudsman. Umar Sheikh will continue as Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO). Dastagir's removal is the sixth time the post of IGP Punjab has seen a reshuffling.
The much-debated controversy came to a head today with a meeting of the Police Service of Pakistan Chapter where Sheikh offered to tender an unconditional apology to Dastagir.
Simultaneously, the issue landed in the office of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, who assured the police that he will listen to both parties to the alleged dispute. In the meeting of police officials, chaired by Additional IGP Rao Sardar, Sheikh clarified his position on the ongoing controversy.
“I am ready to offer an unconditional apology to IGP Punjab. The IG is my commander and it is my duty to obey his orders,” the CCPO said, adding that he had not disobeyed any orders from him.
He said that the IGP had so far issued two orders which were implemented and whatever he said in a meeting of police officers was wrongly conveyed to the IGP. The meeting was also attended by Additional IGP Special Branch, Additional IGP CTD, and the former CCPO. Meanwhile, CM Buzdar summoned IGP Dastagir and heard his reservations against the appointment of CCPO Sheikh.
According to sources privy to the meeting, the IGP told the chief minister that the CCPO had spoken against his command in a meeting and allegedly ordered police officers to not listen to the Punjab police chief.