LAHORE: In a new twist in the decades-old rivalry between provincial police department and the civil bureaucracy, the former has made a fresh move seeking appointment of a minister for Punjab police ‘on the pattern of the one for prisons department’.

The new police demand surfaced when both sides had already developed differences over delegation of powers to the provincial police officer (PPO) as an ex-officio secretary under the Police Order-2002.

The police believed that appointment of a minister for the department would secure it “political ownership”.

Senior police command has been making efforts from time to time to reclaim status of an ex-officio secretary for the provincial police officer (PPO) under the Police Order-2002.

Move likely to face PAS resistance

Senior police officers argue that on Sept 24, 2003 the Punjab government had notified the status of ex-officio secretary for the IGP, giving him full administrative powers to run his department, by exercising administrative authority, including postings and transfers of officers in BS-17, 18 and 19.

This issue became a bone of contention between the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and the Police Service of Pakistan (PSPs), while the former strongly resisted the move.

An official source told Dawn the differences between the two powerful groups further deepened when some IGPs during their tenures refused to route all official correspondence with the chief minister’s office through the provincial home department.

Recently, he said, the stoppage of funds for the Punjab Safe City Authority by the finance department revived the issue, prompting police to demand appointment of an independent ministry, besides delegation of powers for the IGP sans home department’s role.

During a recent ministerial meeting, the police high-ups raised the issue, to convince the government for the ministry.

“In the absence of such a minister, police have to look for the right person to speak to and most of the matters remain under the cabinet committee on law and order where home department exerts bureaucratic control”, the official said.

He said the senior police command believed that if the Punjab prisons department could have its own ‘minister’ for political ownership and oversight, why not the police?

“Even if the chief minister desires to keep this [proposed] portfolio, it will still be good for police as home secretary will no more have a role in its [police’s] affairs, freeing it of bureaucratic control”, he said.

However, source said the move was expected to face strong resistance from PAS officers who have always been keen to gain control over police.

Punjab IG Shoaib Dastgir, in an official letter addressed to the additional chief secretary (services), has reminded him that the PPO was as ex-officio secretary to the Punjab government as per Police Order 2002.

The letter pertained to requisitioning the services of BS-20 police officer Nisar Ahmad Cheema for his posting as chief finance officer of the PSCA.

“It is clarified that after promulgation of Police Order 2002, the provincial police officer/IGP Punjab being an ex-officio secretary to the Punjab government is empowered to exercise administrative and financial powers,” reads the IG’s letter.

The IG’s letter reflects police high-ups resolve to put pressure on the government for implementation of the Police Order in letter and spirit.

Earlier, in May 2019, former IG retired Capt Arif Nawaz had proposed amendments to the Punjab Government Rules of Business (PGRB) 2011 through a summary sent to the chief minister.

In the summary, Mr Nawaz had recommended to the CM to declare Punjab police a department through an amendment to the first schedule under Rules 2&3 of PGRB 2011, allowing the PPO to exercise his administrative and financial powers as an ex-officio secretary.

He wanted amendment to the rules of business to declare police as an independent department and the PSCA as an autonomous body under it.

On his request, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had sought comments from the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary (home). Chief secretary later issued a notification for keeping PSCA under home department. The notification was later withdrawn as it was contrary to the decisions of the cabinet and the chief minister to keep PSCA under administrative control of police.

On the other hand, the PAS officers believe that under the Rules of Business 2010 the police business still falls under the home department.

Requesting anonymity, a senior PAS officer said in 2012 the then chief minister had reprimanded former inspector general of Punjab Police Haji Habibur Rehman for bypassing the home secretary and communicating directly with the chief minister’s secretariat on an administrative issue.

He said Mr Rehman had sent a summary to the chief minister, proposing that retired Maj Mubasharullah, commandant of the Police Training School at Chuhng and a deputy inspector general, be retained despite his retirement on May 12.

The PAS officer said the IG was directed to avoid direct contact with the CM’s secretariat and to follow the Rules of Business.

“Although the IG was given some administrative and financial powers upon being declared an ex-officio secretary in the Police Order-2002, the Rules of Business state that the home secretary remains the administrative secretary for the police department”, he said

The then IG had been told to stick to the Rules of Business, which state that the home secretary is the administrative head of the police department, the PAS official said.

The fact remains that Police Order 2002, as an act of parliament is above the rules of business which must be amended.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020