MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 6: Recent transfers in the AJK police have upset senior officers who after being given odd postings have decided to convey their concern and reservations to the chief secretary and prime minister in this regard, it was learnt here on Friday.

According to a notification issued on Wednesday, DIG Mirpur Range Shaikh Tahir Qayyum (BPS-20) was transferred and posted as DIG Poonch Range in place of Sardar Khurshid Hussain (BPS-19). SP Mirpur Sardar Gulfraz, a BPS-18 officer, was directed to look after the affairs of DIG Mirpur Range “till further orders.”

Mr Hussain, who was promoted as DIG Poonch Range on “current charge basis” in April last year, was transferred and posted “in the same capacity” as DIG traffic, a post which does not exist in the department. The current charge, it may be mentioned here, is a temporary arrangement permissible in the law for six months.

Interestingly, the post of DIG Poonch is also non-existent as it has not been notified to this day. Mr Hussain was sent there as DIG under political compulsions without the creation of post and allocation of budget and resources for it.

Mr Qayyum, sources said, was upset by his transfer within a year to a non-existent position but notwithstanding his concern he had been directed to immediately relinquish the charge and assume his new post.

According to police sources, Mirpur range has always been considered a lucrative position and has mostly been occupied by the police officers from Islamabad, almost all in SSP cadre.

The sources disclosed that the last officer from Islamabad, posted as DIG Mirpur range, was also being accused of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs4.2 million in the police welfare fund but efforts were being made to cover up the issue.

The sources said some federal government functionaries were endeavouring to induct their favourite against this position which was why it had been left vacant.

The AJK police officers, the sources said, had decided to take up this issue with the government, taking strength from a number of rulings by the AJK's superior judiciary that posting of police officers from Pakistan in AJK should be accepted only on the basis of principle of reciprocity.

Similarly, DIG Muzaffarabad Range Faheem Abbasi (BPS-20) was also transferred out of his department and posted as director general Kashmir Institute of Public Administration (Kipa). Dr Liaquat Ali, AIG police, was appointed as in charge DIG Muzaffarabad Range in his place.