Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday took suo motu notice of the recent transfer of Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Rizwan Gondal following an alleged altercation with the former husband of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife.
A three-member bench of the top court headed by the CJP will hear the case today.
The court has summoned Pakpattan DPO, Punjab Police inspector general and the regional police officer.
The DPO’s transfer earlier this week stirred a controversy after media reports suggested that the police officer was transferred because of the August 23 altercation between police and Khawar Maneka, ex-husband of Bushra Bibi.
According to reports, police personnel under Gondal’s watch tried to stop Maneka at a checkpoint for speeding but he did not stop. Police then chased his vehicle and managed to intercept him.
Soon after the reports, the inspector general denied that Gondal was transferred under any pressure and said it was done due to his “misleading statements about misbehaviour by police personnel with a citizen”. Moreover, Punjab Information Minister had also clarified that there was no role of Banigala and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in the transfer of the police officer.
Published in Daily Times, August 31st 2018.
