ISLAMABAD: Though police chiefs are usually not changed during any political and security turmoil, the removal of the inspector general of the Islamabad police, Aftab Cheema, on Thursday raised eyebrows in the federal city.

Rumours also spread in the capital in favour of and against Mr Cheema.Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri alleged that Mr Cheema had refused to take action against the participants of the sit-ins when they entered the Red Zone on August 19.

“Mr Cheema demanded a written order to attack the participants of the sit-ins and that was his only crime otherwise he would not have been removed,” Mr Qadri said.

However, Minister of State for Interior Mohammad Balighur Rehman while talking to Dawn denied the allegation.

“Mr Qadri never speaks the truth. In fact, it was the policy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to take any action against the protesters and allow them to enter the Red Zone,” he said.

He said when the overall performance of the former IGP was examined, there were some lapses, which led to his removal.

A police official requesting not to be identified added that there were different assumptions about the removal of the police chief.

“According to the logbook of the police, at 8pm on August 19 SSP Mohammad Ali Nekokara in a wireless communication conveyed the direction of the IGP to all the police officials concerned that no one should charge on the participants of the sit-ins unless a magistrate gave such an instruction. This instruction was as per rules but it might have annoyed some politicians,” he said.

Moreover, just before Eidul Fitr Mr Cheema had submitted an application for three months’ ex-Pakistan leave, which was not approved because of the long marches announced by the PTI and PAT. Besides, Mr Cheema was on leave when Imran Khan held a rally at Jinnah Avenue on May 11, he said.

Another police official said Mr Cheema had failed to take action on a judicial report about the entry of 300 Sikh community members into the premises of Parliament House in May.

According to the judicial report prepared by District and Sessions Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan, five police officers were shown on a CCTV footage allowing the Sikh protesters to enter the Red Zone. “Over a month ago, the report was referred to the IGP but he did not take any action against the police officials,” he said.

On August 20, the workers of PAT blocked the front exits of the Parliament House due to which the prime minister and legislators had to use the rear side of the building on their return from the session of the house, he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Mr Cheema could not be contacted for comments.

It may be noted that though the transfer and posting of government officials is a routine matter, during critical situations such moves become controversial and everyone starts finding a conspiracy behind it.

The removal of the chairman National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Tariq Malik, on December 2013 also became controversial because of its timing. Some politicians termed it an attempt on part of the government to stop the process of verification of ballot papers in a few constituencies where rigging had been alleged. But Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan denied the allegations.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014