ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended a notification regarding the transfer of Islamabad Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Jan Muhammad after officials said he 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 Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice.
IGP Muhammad was transferred on October 27 after he allegedly refused action on a complaint by Federal Minister Senator Azam Khan Swati’s son regarding an incident at the farmhouse which, the minister claims, led to three of his employees being injured.
‘Will not tolerate political meddling in police’
During today’s proceedings, the chief justice directed the interior secretary and the attorney general to appear before the court and explain as to why the Islamabad IGP 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 IGP 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 IGP was transferred,” he asked further.
The interior secretary then said, “No one informed me before transferring the Islamabad IGP. The Establishment Division transferred him.”
Justice Nisar then remarked, “You did not even know and your IGP was removed. You were not even asked.”
The chief justice then inquired, “Where is the secretary establishment?” The attorney general informed the court that he is heading a meeting regarding transfers of officials.
Justice Nisar then directed that the secretary establishment be asked to appear before the court at 3:30pm. “Ask him to bring the transfer file along with him,” the chief justice added.
After the establishment secretary appeared before the court, the attorney general presented a record of the Islamabad IGP’s transfer.
“The Islamabad IGP was transferred on PM Imran’s verbal orders,” the AGP told the court.
The chief justice then asked, “On which minister’s saying did the prime minister issue verbal orders for the IGP’s transfer?”
“We will not allow the country to be run like this,” Justice Nisar asserted. “The country will not be run on somebody’s whims but as per the law,” he added.
“Is this Naya Pakistan?” the chief justice remarked.
Suspending the notification regarding the Islamabad IGP’s transfer, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till Tuesday. The court also directed the secretaries of interior and establishment to submit their affidavits by Wednesday and appear for tomorrow’s hearing. The attorney general has also been summoned to the hearing tomorrow.
Islamabad IGP transferred
On October 27, the Islamabad IGP Jan Muhammad was transferred and ordered to report immediately to the Establishment Division until further orders.
Pakistan Peoples 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.
IGP Muhammad was transferred on October 27 after he allegedly refused action on a complaint by Federal Minister Senator Azam Khan Swati’s son regarding an incident at the farmhouse which, the minister claims, led to three of his employees being injured.
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.
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.
