ISLAMABAD: The ex-cadre officers of the capital police are being deprived of their due right of promotion, as instead of promoting them against the vacant seats in the capital police, concerned authorities have been deputing officers from other departments.

Due to the violation of rights to promotion, 14 seats reserved for the ex-cadre officers out of 15 were left vacant. Officers of the capital police told Dawn that there were 38 seats from grade-18 (Superintendent of Police) to grade-21 (Inspector General of Police).

As per the quota, 15 seats are reserved for rankers while the remaining seats are meant for the Police Services of Pakistan (PSP), they added. Out of the 15 seats, there was only one officer of the SP rank in the capital police, they said, adding that the capital police had 20 seats for the grade-18 officers, and out of the total, 11 were occupied by PSPs.

Regarding the 18 other seats from grade-19 (SSP) to grade-21, at least 11 were occupied by PSPs, including an SSP whose encadrement in the PSP group was made by the establishment division from the ex-cadre group earlier after a year of his promotion to grade-18.

Only one ex-cadre officer appointed as 14 seats reserved for rankers remain vacant

An officer cannot be promoted from grade-18 to grade-19 (SSP) until his encadrement is made in the PSP group, they said, adding that after one year of promotion to grade-18 (SP), the IGP is required to recommend these officers to the establishment division for induction into the PSP group.

Meanwhile, the 15 seats reserved for the ex-cadre officers cannot be given to the PSP officers in any case, they said, adding that the eligible officers would be promoted to grade-18 (SP) from grade-17 (DSP) by a promotion board constituted by the interior ministry. In light of Police Order 2002, the police chief can also promote eligible officers to vacant seats, they added.

The last promotion of ex-cadre officers to grade-18 took place in 2021, they said adding that recently, two SPs from the PSP group were transferred to the capital police; both were from the Pakistan Railways and after reaching grade-18, the establishment division made their encadrement in the PSP group.

Currently, only one ex-cadre officer of grade-18 is working in the capital police, they said, adding that last month one ex-cadre SP Tahir Khan was transferred to Balochistan on deputation, while the rest of the 13 seats reserved for rankers were either vacant or given to the PSPs in violation of the quota system. On some seats, DSPs were working via shoulder promotion.

SP Tahir Khan was transferred to Balochistan on deputation by the establishment division at the request of the IGP, despite the fact that he was not a PSP officer, they said. The IGP made SP Khan a scapegoat to save his skin along with the DIG Operations and SSP CTD after the quarters concerned expressed displeasure for not getting the desired result in a case registered against PTI leaders in connection with violence outside the judicial complex on March 18.

The officers said that despite the availability of eligible officers, quota, and seats, the procedure to promote the grade-17 officers to grade-18 is yet to be initiated, adding that five DSPs are given shoulder promotions despite rulings of the SC. The word ‘officiating’ is used to give the five officers the rank of SP, keeping in view of the SC ruling against the shoulder promotion, the officers said.

Besides, there were 50 seats for grade-17 officers in the capital -- 41 for DSPs (ex-cadres) and nine for ASPs (Assistant Superintendents of Police), the officers said, adding that out of the total 41 seats, as many as 12 DSP seats were laying vacant, besides, some inspectors are also working on the DSP seats too.

Despite the availability of the eligible officers, the procedure has yet to start for the promotion of a grade-16 officer (inspector) to a grade-17 (DSP), they said, adding that however, the IGP Islamabad brought two DSPs from the Punjab police on deputation.

Former DSP Legal Azhar Shah, talking to Dawn, said that as per the Federal Services Act 1973, a 40 per cent quota was reserved for ex-cadres and a 60 per cent quota was reserved for the PSPs. PSPs cannot be appointed on the quota reserved for rankers, he added.

As per the Services Rules, an officer of the Federal Service (CSS) could be appointed or transferred anywhere in Pakistan, the retired DSP said, adding that SP Khan was an officer of Islamabad, having a status of a province, but he was not an officer of the federal.

The rule of transfer on deputation – as per Estacode transfers on deputation can only be made through the process of selection – was violated in SP Khan’s case, as the demand of the officer from Balochistan by the province’s IGP and the selection procedure were not mentioned in the notification issued by the establishment division, the former police officer, who is now a high court lawyer, added.

When contacted, Police Publication Branch head DIG Headquarters Awais Ahmed replied that these were policy issues and only the IGP could reply. Jawad Taqi is PRO, he replied when asked if he was not the in-charge of the PPB. PRO Jawad Taqi was also approached for comments, but he did not reply. The IGP was also not available for comments despite attempts.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2023