ISLAMABAD: Some senior officials have shown concern over the promotion process for the Police Services of Pakistan (PSP) officers, alleging manipulation in favour of some personnel.

The additional secretary establishment, on the other hand, said the Central Selection Board (CSB) in its proceedings had discussed each case on merit.

Sources in the Establishment Division and police told Dawn that a bureaucrat allegedly lobbied to get his relative and other blue-eyed officials promoted during the recently-convened CSB meeting

In this regard, composition of the promotion board was managed and also changed, the officers alleged, adding that the board meeting was also rescheduled at the last moment reportedly to avoid the presence of the IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in it.

Additional secretary claims recommendations made after consensus, due deliberations

The meeting was scheduled to be held on Aug 11, but it was postponed and later held on Aug 12, and on that day KP’s police chief was busy in Swat, the officers said. Besides, there was no presence of senior police officers from Sindh.

However, chief secretaries of the provinces attended the meeting, but the feedback from police officers played a vital role.

There were 24 seats of DIG available and a panel comprising 48 officers, including those who were already promoted to the rank (DIG) and awaiting confirmation, was made for the promotion.

However, the board superseded a majority of the officers having good reputation and higher ‘blood count’.

The term blood count is used for a score earned through training and courses like Mid Career Management Course, Senior Career Management Course and the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs). A majority of the officers on top of the list were superseded.

The promotion board met on Aug 12 and only 18 vacant seats were filled out of the total 24 while promotion on seven seats was deferred. Out of the 18 promoted officers, nine were those who were ranked from 25 to 48 in the list.

The officers alleged that the process was carried out to favour an officer at the bottom of the list who happened to be a relative of a bureaucrat.

As per rules, officers facing an inquiry may not be promoted till they are found innocent or three years after the inquiry without any result, the sources said, but in this case, the officers who had even completed the required three years were left in the lurch against the established rules of promotion.

When contacted, Additional Secretary Establishment Waseem Mukhtar said the CSB in its proceedings discussed each case on merit and members gave their input. After consensus and due deliberations, the recommendation was recorded.

Before the presentation of the case of the relative of a senior bureaucrat to the CSB, full disclosure of the fact was made to the board by the senior bureaucrat himself. He then excused himself from the proceedings and left the meeting room. The case of the officer was then discussed by CSB on merit.

Replying to a question about the board composition which was changed twice, Mr Mukhtar said the name of MNA Usama Qadri and two BS-22 police officers were added to the board to complete the composition.

About the change of the meeting date to avoid appearance of the IGP KP, the additional secretary said the agenda for PSP officers was changed to Aug 12 on the request of provinces.

The CSB was convened immediately after Ashura and provinces requested that since the IGPs were busy in law and order duties relating to Muharram, the PSP agenda may be taken up on Friday (Aug 12).

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IGP, at the last moment, informed through the chief secretary that since he was committed to his duties in view of the security situation in Swat, he would not be able to attend the CSB meeting on Friday. However, the KP chief secretary attended the meeting.

Over the absence of police officers from Sindh, Mr Mukhtar said as per practice IGPs who were in BS-22 were members of the CSB agenda pertaining to PSP officers.

IGP Sindh is in BS-21 and representation from Sindh was made by the chief secretary.

About those who were promoted earlier and whose confirmation case was presented in the meeting but were demoted, the additional secretary stated every case was deliberated upon by the CSB on merit.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2022