Lahore: Hours before the much-talked-about re-election of Punjab chief minister, the federal government transferred provincial police chief Rao Sardar Ali Khan and appointed Faisal Shahkar (BPS-22) as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP). ,
The government replaced the Punjab Police Commander after Mr Khan requested him to be shifted to some suitable place as he was no longer ready to serve in the province under the present circumstances. He was serving as the Managing Director of Punjab Safe City Authority (PSCA) when he was posted as IGP by the then PTI government last September.
a senior official told dawn Rao Sardar Ali Khan was Imran Khan’s favorite police officer who, as prime minister, chose him from among four other senior police officers in the race to command the Punjab Police. He said that Rao Sardar had replaced Inam Ghani who was removed from the post when the then Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar complained to his PM that Mr Ghani had sidelined him and Azam Khan, the then Secretary to the PM. were in close contact.
The official said Khan’s transfer is being linked to a campaign launched recently by the PTI leadership, which “targeted” him and Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal.
The PTI leaders had warned the officials that they would initiate legal and departmental action against them if voted to power again.
On a few occasions, Imran Khan in his public meetings had ‘calls’ the names of both the top government officials of Punjab and declared them to be an example, accusing them of favoring the ruling PML-N.
He said Rao Sardar felt humiliated when former federal minister Shahbaz Gill made derogatory remarks against him on Friday ahead of the start of the much-awaited session of the Punjab Assembly to elect the chief minister.
Rao Sardar Ali Khan wanted his ‘honorable exit’ and on Friday thought it right to leave the slot rather than bring more embarrassment to the PML-N’s rule in Punjab and the Centre.
According to some media reports, Rao Sardar Ali Khan and Kamran Ali Afzal had a few days ago requested the government to transfer him out of Punjab, as there was a possibility of punitive action after the change of government in view of re-election in the province. cm.
Honoring Mr Khan’s request, sent through the Punjab government, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif transferred him and posted him as the new IG of the Pakistan Railway Police, Faisal Shahkar.
“With the approval of the Federal Government, Mr. Rao Sardar Ali Khan, a BS-22 Police Officer, presently posted as the Provincial Police Officer of the Government of Punjab, has been transferred and posted as the Inspector General of the Pakistan Railway Police with immediate effect. is posted. Further order,” reads a notification issued by the Establishment Division, Islamabad.
In another separate notification, the division has appointed Faisal Shahkar as the new IGP Punjab.
About the newly appointed IGP, the senior official said, “Faisal Shahkar is from 16th Common and has previously held various important field positions in Punjab. He has worked as Additional IG Special Branch Punjab for three years and has been posted as Regional Police Officer of Sahiwal and Gujranwala apart from rendering services in other districts of the state.
Mr Shahkar has also performed duties under the United Nations Mission in other countries such as Bosnia and Liberia.
Published in Dawn, July 23, 2022