LAHORE: The Punjab government has removed Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Ammara Athar following her `poor performance’ in managing traffic on city roads and replaced her with her husband, a grade-20 police officer.

The hours-long traffic blockage during VVIP movement at Adda Plot on Raiwind Road in the first week of December was one of the leading factors behind her removal.

Lahore police chief Bilal Siddique Kamyana had suspended 12 traffic wardens at that time beside showing his displeasure with the CTO performance.

Soon after the incident, the CCPO reportedly started looking for her replacement to avoid further embarrassment because Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had, some six months back, admonished the CTO over her poor performance in managing city traffic during a meeting where senior command of the Punjab police was also present.An official privy to the situation said the Adda Plot issue prompted the IGP and senior command of the Lahore police to consider a suitable replacement of Ammara Athar.

The official said Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana picked the name of Athar Waheed, a grade-20 police officer against the BS-19 CTO seat.

The notification however surprised many in the police circles, particularly officers in BS-19.As per notification, the post of the CTO Lahore has been upgraded from BS-19 to BS -20. Athar Waheed was allowed to hold the additional charge of the post of DIG PHP beside CTO.

“The post of Chief Traffic Officer Lahore shall remain upgraded from BS 19 to BS 20 as personal to Mr Mohammad Athar Waheed and as long as it is held by him,” reads the notification issued by the Punjab Chief Secretary.

It further says Mr Waheed shall also hold the additional charge of the post of PHP Punjab DIG, a shocking decision for BS 19 officials .

To make room for Ammara Athar, a BS-18 police officer, Capt retired Dost Mohammad, was transferred from his post of AIG Discipline Punjab and posted as police school of intelligence Lahore SP, a relatively low profile non-field assignment. A notification was issued in this regard the same day.

Ammara Athar was the first female police officer who was posted as CTO Lahore in December last year.Traffic congestion on many roads, intersections and other busiest points of the city has become a permanent feature since the outgoing CTO shifted her focus to generate revenue by imposing heavy fines on motorists.

Roads known for congestion include Gulberg’s Main Boulevard, Hussain Chowk, MM Alam Road, surroundings of the Liberty Roundabout, The Mall, Jail Road, a belt of Ferozpur Road from Kahna to Mozang Chungi, Model Town Link Road, the surroundings of the Jinnah Hospital, Shaukat Khanum Road, Babu Sabu Interchange, a major part of Multan Road, Cavalry Bridge, Defence Morr.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2024