ISLAMABAD – Punjab IG Kaleem Imam was grilled in the Supreme Court over thetransfer of Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Rizwan Gondal.
DPO Gondal was transfered following an alleged altercation with the firstlady’s ex-husband Khawar Fareed Manika.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by the chief justice heardthe suo motu notice case. Punjab IG Kaleem Imam, Additional Punjab IG AbuBakar Khuda Bakhsh, DPO Rizwan Gondal and serving DPO Pakpattan and RPOSahiwal attended the hearing.
During the conversation with the Punjab IG, the chief justice said that“You did your duty with dishonesty. The top judge expressed severeresentment Punjab IG and remarked “Do not give directions to the court. Letus summon secretary establishment and ask him to issue your transferorders. You will not return as Punjab IG if misrepresented the matter.”
CJP Nisar further remarked that If the transfer was made on the request ofthe chief minister or the person sitting next to him then this was unlawfulact. “Why was the DPO asked to visit Maneka’s house to apologise and whywas he transferred at 1am?” Justice Nisar asked.
The chief justice asked that what was the need to issue transfer order at1am. “We want to make police independent of political influence but ourefforts are being maligned,” remarked CJ Nisar. “How Ahsan Jamil Gojjar cangive the transfer orders?” he asked. Following the statements, the apexcourt also summoned Khawar Fareed Manika and Ahsan Jamil Gojjar,Intelligence Colonel Tariq at on Monday.
The Sahiwal RPO informed the court that the police tried to stop KhawirManeka at a checkpoint for speeding but he did not stop, the police thenchased his vehicle and managed to intercept him.
DPO Gondal came on the rostrum and told the court that Chief Minister’sPersonal Staff Officer (PSO) Haider called him. “The CM PSO said to me, Itwas said to the Punjab IG that the Pakpattan DPO will not be seen inPakpattan at 9am tomorrow morning,” he informed the court. He also toldthat as per the CM’s PSO the transfer order has been given by the chiefminister.
However, the SC also directed to the Punjab IG, the Sahiwal RPO and thePakpattan DPO to submit their affidavit. Inquiry officer Abu Bakar KhudaBaksh presented the report in court.