In a major development, Inspector General of Railways Faisal Shahkar has been appointed the new Inspector General of Punjab police. The appointment comes as IG Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan excused himself from further carrying out his duties moments before the crucial Punjab Chief Minister election, the media reported.
According to the details, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari had earlier raised concern about possible violence taking place at the Punjab Assembly during the election and requested IG Punjab and Chief Secretary to take security measures.
شہباز شریف کا خاص آدمی فیصل شاہکار IG پنجاب تعینات کر دیا گیا۔
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) July 22, 2022
Dost Mazari’s letter prompted Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi to move the Supreme Court against him. Moreover, PTI MPA Zainab Umair also served a legal notice to the chief secretary and IG Punjab against the deployment of police force inside the Punjab Assembly, raising concern that the police will repeat the actions of April 16 where it tortured women and aged members of the assembly.
Read more: Punjab Police mistreats PTI leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid (video)
Regarding this, IG Punjab Rao Sardar Ali requested the Punjab government to make arrangements for his transfers. The names that were being mulled over for the fresh appointment included AD Khawaja, Faisal Shahkar, and Inam Ghani. Additionally, the Chief Secretary of Punjab also excused himself from working further, citing the same reasons as IG Punjab.
🚨IG Punjab stopped working.
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 22, 2022
Rao Sardar Ali, IG Punjab, turned away himself from further work.
#CMPunjabElection pic.twitter.com/onzQgNKpgV— Shahzada Ahsan (@AhsanShahzadapk) July 22, 2022
PML-N ministers vacating offices?
Interestingly, the media reported that IG Punjab and Chief Secretary are concerned that they may have to face accountability for police brutality (police violence during PTI long marches) in recent months since there are high chances that Hamza Shehbaz will get ousted and PTI-nominated Parvez Elahi becomes Punjab Chief Minister.
Read more: Police raids PTI candidate’s office in Lahore
As the Punjab Chief Minister elections loom near, it seems that PML-N is packing up while anticipating a change in the provincial government. The competition is intense between PTI and PML-N with the former in the majority.
According to media reports, PML-N provincial ministers have already started to vacate government offices. Provincial ministers Hassan Murtaza, Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Iqbal, and others have started to vacate govt offices and residences, the media reported citing sources.