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Thursday March 28, 2024

Islamabad IGP defends his stance

By Azaz Syed
March 30, 2017

ISLAMABAD: Tariq Masood Yasin, grade-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, currently serving as Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP), in a letter to Chief Commissioner Islamabadhas rejected the propaganda launched against him by vested interests.

During last two days, many news items based on unknown sources claimed, “Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan has decided to remove IGP as he is not satisfied with his performance”. Though interior minister can neither appoint nor can remove any officer of grade-20 or above but even then the campaign was carried out against him.

“Efforts have been made, as a part of vilification campaign, to damage my image and reputation by some vested interests; I hereby place my concern on record against this baseless campaign,” the IGP said in the letter.

The sources claim that a group of officers working in federal police is closely linked to some officials of the Interior Ministry bypassing their boss, the IGP. The officers in the said group, according to the sources, have been deployed in Islamabad for last several years and due to their strong connections, nobody challenges them. However Tariq Masood Yasin, the chief of the federal police has dared to challenge them following which he has started facing conspiracies by none other than his own juniors.

An interior ministry source, however, rubbished this theory. He said no ministry official encourages bypassing of the IGP by his juniors. 

In his letter, Tariq Masood Yasin, for the first time, came forward saying that contrary to the news being circulated he was never issued a show cause notice except an explanation on flimsy grounds which was sent to him by additional secretary of the Ministry of Interior. He said that he aptly replied the said letter.

In continuation of his letter, Tariq Masood Yasin also came forward confirming his statement of July 14, 2016.  Yasin, on the said date, said that the police foiled the attack while acting on a tip-off from the Inter-Services Intelligence regarding threats to sensitive buildings or installations. Two groups comprising 13 terrorists had planned to carry out terrorist attacks at Quaid-e-Azam University or take hostages at local hostels, he added. Intelligence information was provided in the second week of June and shared with him and the chief commissioner, the IG said.

Yasin says, “My statement about the threat alert in the Senate last July regarding a specific threat was correct as it was directly conveyed to him and the chief commissioner by an Intelligence Agency in the first week of May. He added that the situation regarding the alert was averted by the grace of Almighty Allah. 

In the letter, he said that the police also pointed out another previous incident in which he was made responsible whereas it was mistake of Senior Superintendent of Police office. The IGP Islamabad also pointed out clear interference of Interior Ministry and the Chief Commissioner office in the internal posting and transfer matters of Islamabad Police. While mentioning the postings of two officers of Islamabad Police as Superintendent of Police Saddar and Assistant Inspector General he said, “Police Order 2002 permits IGP to issue transfer order of SSP and below, however, they were still withdrawn when the chief commissioner asked and was sent a proposal in the interest of congenial working atmosphere.”

Tariq Masood Yasin that usage of operational vehicles by IGP Islamabad was questioned as they were told that only authorised number of vehicles was being used for operational purposes in wake of prevailing security threats of terrorism to the senior police officers in the country.

IGP whose services are recently sought by Punjab government also maintained, “It is a matter of record that the law and order situation in the capital remained exemplary during my stay here as IGP.”

Yasin without naming Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan also wrote that competent authority many a time appreciated the leadership qualities of Inspector General of Police, Islamabad. He clearly mentioned some of key steps taken by him for the better policing in federal capital which included IT Initiatives, establishment of counter-terrorism force, community policing, accessibility to citizens, use of latest communication technologies, operationalisation of safe city, ICT Police Communications, Specialized Homicide Investigation Units, promotion of about 700 officers which had been pending for last many years was also done in his tenure. He also claimed that up-gradation of police hospital, welfare of constabulary etc were also carried out during his small tenure which is touching one year on April 13, 2017.

An interior ministry source rejected the allegation of interference by interior ministry and the chief commissioner office. He said rules are strictly followed in all inter-departmental matters.