Government removes Punjab IG Amjad Javed Saleemi

LAHORE: In a surprise move, the Federal Government on Monday removed the Punjab’s Inspector General of Police (IG) Amjad Javed Saleemi from his post, ARY News reported.

Police Service’s officer Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz replaced Amjad Javed Saleemi has been appointed in his place as Punjab’s IG. The Establishment Division has directed Mr Saleemi to report to the Establishment Division.

The new Inspector General Arif Nawaz has served as Secretary Anti-Narcotic Force.

This is the third time that Punjab has seen a change in provincial police command since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government assumed the power in September 2018.

In October 2018, the government had removed then IG Punjab Mohammad Tahir from his post and had appointed Amjad Javed Saleemi in his place.

Last year, on October 9, former KP police chief and Chairman Punjab Police Reforms Commission Nasir Khan Durrani had resigned from his post.

According to sources, the former IG KP Nasir Khan Durrani had tendered his resignation from the post citing health issues.

The Police Reform Commission led by Durrani had been tasked with recommending measures to transform the otherwise highly “politicised” Punjab police into a professional outfit which would be politically neutral, operationally autonomous, service oriented and externally accountable.

Durrani while heading the KP police for almost three and a half years had introduced a strict accountability by dismissing around 800 policemen and awarding another kind of punishments to over 6000 others.