KARACHI, March 7: A number of district police officers, who served under the previous political government and played what is widely described as a controversial role, have asked police authorities for a transfer, it has been learnt.

Sources told Dawn that while the outgoing caretaker government had lost interest in the transfers and postings of DPOs, the provincial police chief had seized the opportunity to post officers of good repute in districts where political victimization took place under the previous setup through police.

They were unsure whether the incoming government would keep such competent officers posted. They added that chances were that the next government would again opt for a reshuffle so that police officers believed to be close to the new set of ruling politicians got crucial postings.

They said that in the first move, DPO Dawood Junejo posted in Thatta had been replaced by SP Najaf Mirza.

It is worth noting that the Pakistan People’s Party, which won the Feb 18, 2008 election and is set to form a government in Sindh under chief minister-designate Qaim Ali Shah, lost a provincial assembly seat in Thatta to Shah Hussain Shah Shirazi, relative of caretaker Sindh Minister for Food and Agriculture. A vote recount has been ordered by the Sindh High Court on another Thatta provincial assembly seat.

The sources said that in another interesting move, SP Umar Cheema, who was originally posted in Sargodha, was transferred to Jacobabad district for the Feb 18 polls as per the wishes of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro. After this ‘assignment’, he was transferred to Larkana district in place of DPO Ghulam Rasool Domki. Mr Cheema has now been asked to report to the Establishment Division.

SSP Waliullah Dal has been posted as Jacobabad DPO.

In Ghotki district, DPO Aftab Halepoto has been replaced by SP Rana Tahir Tanvir.

DSP Sajid Ali Shah, who was posted as Tharparkar DPO by former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, was removed and replaced by SP Iqbal Dara.

SP Dara was earlier posted as SP Special Branch.

Similarly, The Dadu DPO is also expected to be transferred and replaced by SP Mohammad Younis Chandio.

The sources said that that Shikarpur DPO SP Mansoor Mughal has asked the authorities for a transfer and a suitable officer is expected to replace him in a day or two.

They said the Sindh police have asked the Establishment Division for officers Sultan Khawaja and Ghulam Nabi Memon.

Meanwhile, the former capital city police officer, Tariq Jameel, after staying on the sideline since December 2006, has been posted as DIG Establishment.

The sources said the former CCPO was a potential candidate for the post of city police chief in the new dispensation.