FAISALABAD, June 22: The city police officer, in an unusual move, has transferred the entire staff (except newly-appointed head) of the Establishment Branch on allegations of corruption.

Dawn learnt on Saturday that City Police Officer Raja Riffat Mukhtar has inducted new faces to ensure transparency in policing.

Sources said Raja Riffat and SSP (Operations) Gohar Nafees were not happy with the performance of the Establishment Branch, also known as OSI Branch, whose officials had developed the habit of misguiding their bosses about appointments. These officials had fixed rates for transfers and postings of the policemen from the rank of constable to sub-inspector, sources said, adding the rate for appointment of SHO was not fixed because the officers appointed SHOs after interview.

Prior to the issuance of appointment notification, they said, the branch employees would expect gratification by informing any officer selected for SHO’s slot that they had put in a lot of effort to present his favourable credentials before the higher-ups.

During the election days, said sources, the CPO had to face embarrassment due to “poor performance” of the OSI Branch when its incumbents had forwarded the names of a number of notorious police inspectors to be appointed as SHOs. The CPO had transferred all SHOs in Faisalabad district, except the one at the women police station.

He had asked OSI Branch head Inspector Mahar Manak to forward the names of reputed policemen but the inspector ignored the directive.Sources said 19 of the 39 policemen who were posted SHOs had remained involved in various crimes including corruption and faulty investigations. The CPO transferred Manak and appointed Inspector Haji Nasir who enjoys good repute.

Now, the CPO has transferred Sub-Inspector Mohammad Saleem, second in command at the branch, ASI Boota, head constables Zakir Hussain, Abdul Rauf and Azhar Hussain, constables Habibur Rehman and Zaheer Akhtar.

Earlier, before the appointment of the CPO, the OSI Branch had allegedly misguided the then regional police officer, Tariq Masood Yaseen, about potential candidates and the RPO suspended Manak from service. Manak was allowed to resume job after some of his cronies convinced the RPO that he would mend his ways.

Sources said these employees had been serving the branch for several years and had strong political connections. They were trying to use blessings of some powers that be to regain positions in the OSI Branch, sources said.

The CPO told Dawn that a majority of these employees were serving at the branch for many years and had accommodated their men at various places while abusing their authority. He said each member of the branch should be transferred every six months to check corruption and ensure transparency.