LAHORE: Additional IG Investigation Malik Abu Bakr Khuda Bakhsh was removed from his post reportedly after a “heated argument” with Inspector General of Punjab Police retired Capt Arif Nawaz on the issue of strict legal proceeding against the cops involved in alleged extrajudicial killing of a young man in Kasur.

A BS-21 officer, Khuda Bakhsh, and the IGP entered into an argument after Mr Bakhsh recommended in his investigation inclusion of section 311 of the PPC in the case FIR so that the cops could not escape punishment even if legal heirs of the victim pardoned them.

The Section 311 of PPC empowers a court to punish an offender against whom right of qisas is waived.

An official privy to the information told Dawn that the IG Punjab was of the view that the legal action recommended by Mr Bakhsh should be decided by the court rather by the police.

Official wanted to ensure penalty for extrajudicial killing in Kasur

Mr Arif Nawaz had referred the case in January this year to the Punjab investigation branch after it transpired that young man Mudassar was allegedly killed in a staged encounter in Iman Fatima rape case in Kasur.

A 21-year-old powerloom worker, Mudassar was taken into custody by the Kasur police on Feb 25, 2017, the same day after the five-year-old girl was raped and killed.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Sukhera was heading the investigation team while Mr Bakhsh was supervising the entire process being head of the branch.

The official said Khuda Bakhsh [who is known for his principles] recommended stern action against the policemen responsible for the extrajudicial killing of Mudassar.

On finding the report by Mr Bakhsh, the IGP sought opinion from some other senior police officers who opposed it saying, “let the court decide it.”

The IG accordingly conveyed the same to Khuda Bakhsh asking him to revisit his decision of including section 311of PPC.

On this, the official said, both sides exchanged arguments which irked the IG for not giving respect to his “order”.

He later recommended to the Punjab chief minister to remove Mr Bakhsh from his current assignment.

He also proposed to the CM that Malik Khuda Bakhsh may be posted as additional IG (logistics and procurement).

The chief minister approved the recommendations. In the late night development, additional IG (logistics and procurement) B.A Nasir replaced Mr Bakhsh and a notification was issued accordingly.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018