ISLAMABAD, May 22: Defying orders of the Supreme Court, the Inspector General of National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) transferred three officers of senior ranks here on Wednesday.

Sources in the department told Dawn that the transfers were made after senior officers opposed the decision of their chief, who was insisting on arranging insurance worth Rs40 million for all NH&MP personnel with the State Life.

The officers considered this illegal as the insurance of the NH&MP personnel was already covered under the budget of Reward and Welfare.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Motorway Zone Abbas Hassan Malik was removed from his post and made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Similarly, Assistant Inspector General Nasir Satti was removed from his post and transferred to Chakri as the sector commander, while Sector Commander Chakri Asim Gulzar was transferred to Rahim Yar Khan.

Sources said the officers had resisted the IGP’s order which involved at least Rs40million from the welfare funds of the organisation. They further added that the insurance was being arranged only to provide benefit to a woman close to the IG, as she would earn a handsome commission in the process.

IG NHMP Zaffar Iqbal Lak, when contacted, said the transfers and postings were a routine matter, and the apex court’s order was not being violated. He said certain posts were empty, and the transfers were made to fill the vacancies.

Referring to DIG Malik, he said the officer had applied for an ex-Pakistan leave, and thus was made an OSD. He said the proposed insurance scheme would benefit the department personnel, as the State Life would provide them with more profit.

When DIG Malik was asked about his refusal to obey the IG’s directions, he neither denied nor confirmed it. Replying to the question of his leave, he said he needed the break to attend a course.

SSP Satti also said it was a routine transfer, and had nothing to do with the insurance decision.—Staff Reporter