ISLAMABAD: No official of the capital police could meet the new criteria set by the police to fill three main posts in the police stations of the city.

A committee was constituted by the inspector general of the police (IGP) to select station house officers, additional station house officers and duty officers from the available inspectors and sub-inspectors. Officials said the capital police had the strength of 150 inspectors and 400 sub-inspectors.

For the appointments, the criteria were set with separate categories to put officials in it according to their services record and performance. Inspectors and sub-inspectors of repute with clean record along with best performance and having good reputation and service without any allegation would fall in the category A.

Those officials who cannot meet the criteria set for category A, including professional performance, or who faced any allegations but could not be found guilty, were put in the category B.

The category C included officials having bad reputation, who served punishments, faced departmental action and were involved in corrupt practices. Those who fall in this category would not be appointed on any of these three posts.

The committee interviewed and examined the record of about 100 officials but no one met the criteria set for the category A.

Due to unavailability of any official for the A category, the committee stopped its proceedings and recommended that 15 officials falling in the B category may be considered for the posts.

Later, 15 officials from the list provided by the committee were selected as SHOs of as many police stations last week.

When contacted, IGP Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said: “I am not satisfied with the committee’s proceedings and its selection of officials.” He said directives had been issued to the committee to continue its proceedings and select the best available officials.

About the unavailability of officials who could not meet the criteria set for category A, the IGP said proceedings of the committee were still in progress.

So far all inspectors and sub-inspectors have not been interviewed. After completion of the process, officials would be selected for the three posts of the police stations.

About appointment of officials as SHOs of 15 police stations without completion of the process, the IGP said it was done due to the Pakistan Day and other security measures. The appointments have been made on a temporary basis, he added.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2018