Salute or sacking: it’s a matter of time

ISLAMABAD:-The PML-N leadership that didn’t hesitate to salute and kiss the police cops for refusing the unlawful orders of Governor Salman Taseer during long march for judiciary in 2009 has penalized a police officer and only for expressing difference of opinion.
The notification of dismissal from service of former SSP Islamabad Muhammad Ali Nekokara is a vivid reminder of how politicians consider the public servant as personal employees. With it a new precedent has been set as no police officer has ever been removed from service only because he had different views to handle a situation.
The PML-N government that never tires taking credit of handling the PTI-PAT protesters last year without using significant force has ironically dismissed Nekokara for opposing the use of force against them. He only wrote a couple of letters cautioning that applying force could repeat Model Town-like tragedy with political and administrative consequences worse than before.
Incidentally, the police officers involved in Model Town incident continue to face the music for using the force that left many killed. One inspector is behind the bars whereas two SP-rank officers are ‘absconders’ and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif already distanced himself by saying no order was issued by him.
Nekokara, in contrast, is paying through nose for trying to avoid Model Town-like episode for police and political government both. He wrote a letter on August 26, 2014 to secretary interior for opposing the use of force. Police took action under his command on August 30 when asked to do so which means he obeyed the command, reservations notwithstanding.
When this action led to some killings and registration of FIR against him and political leadership by PTI and PAT, he wrote another letter on August 31 reminding of his past advice that force could only aggravate the situation. He was posted out, salary stopped, inquiry conducted and now dismissal has been notified.
While he has been removed from service for mere giving opinion, this act on the part of PML-N government is in contrast with the heroic welcome accorded to Athar Waheed who had refused to arrest the PML-N workers and leaders joining in Nawaz Sharif for a long march to Islamabad. Athar, then-SP Gujranwala, had also urged his colleagues through a press conference not to follow such orders and Shahbaz Sharif had saluted him for this. “I salute the suspended SP Gujranwala Athar Waheed who refused to accept unconstitutional and illegal orders. The nation is proud of such gallant and heroic police officers”, Shahbaz Sharif had remarked in March 2009 about the officer.
Incidentally, his action was not condemned by Athar’s bosses. Rao Iftikhar, then-home secretary Punjab, had told The News’ editor investigation Ansar Abbasi that it was just a case of difference of opinion and not defiance. A difference of opinion, Rao said, is accepted in the civilian bureaucracy and in a number of cases, juniors didn’t agree with seniors.
In another case, Mian Nawaz Sharif had kissed a police constable who handed his cap and belt to him during a rally on February 26, 2009 that he was addressing in Sheikhupura to mobilize support for the long march after the removal of Shahbaz Sharif government through imposition of governor raj.
As many as 153 officers reverted to their position who were earlier removed by Governor Salman Taseer after their refusal to cooperate. Included among them were then-CPO Lahore Pervez Rathore, RPO Gujranwala Zulfiqar Cheema, Ch. Shafique and Sohail Sukhera.