ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to implement the Police Order 2002 and barred premature transfers and posting in the police department.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Athar Minallah issued these directives while hearing a petition against chronic political interference in the transfers and postings of the Punjab police.
In their petitions, Rana Tahir Saleem and Mohammad Javaid informed the court of the claimed infraction of Police Order 2002, noting that between June 7, 2018, and August 29, 2022, nine Lahore capital city police officers (CCPOs) and eight inspector generals of police (IGP) changed.
According to the petitions, the CCPOs and IGPs only had average tenures of 4.5 and 6.2 months, respectively, which was reflected in the frequent reshuffles.
With the commencement of the hearing today, CJP Bandial noted that officials at the helm must put on record the reasons if any transfer within the police department was inevitable.
“No officer should be removed without the consultation of a senior officer,” he remarked.
The chief justice asked whether the same “formula for good governance” will be pursued in Sindh and Balochistan as well [for the reformation of police working].
He also sought details from Sindh and Balochistan police departments about transfers and postings.
“Will the Punjab government enforce the law or should the court issue directions on it?” CJP questioned while asking authorities to seek a reply from the Punjab government and submit the same before the court.
He stated that people were being affected due to growing crime, adding that police officers should not be transferred at the behest of any MPA.
He observed that appointing a DPO or a CPO was the prerogative of the inspector general of police.
“There is no bar on the premature removal of officers under the law, but the prescribed procedure should be followed,” he said, adding there was a general perception that government uses the police as a political weapon.
