IGP Islamabad comes forth in defence of his integrity and repute

ISLAMABAD: In a rare happening, a grade-21 civil servant of Police Service of Pakistan, Tariq Masood Yasin, has come forward confronting and challenging the Ministry of Interior, apparently to maintain his respect and dignity.

"I feel proud and humbled of my impeccable and unblemished service career record, reputation and a good name in the Police Service of Pakistan due to Allah Almighty's gifted integrity and professionalism. The vilification campaign has been hurting and my concern may please be placed on record," said Tariq Masood Yasin, currently serving as Inspector General of Police in Islamabad, in a two-page letter to Chief Commissioner and Secretary Interior here on Wednesday.

The letter by the officer, a copy of which also available with The News, is clearly written to defend his position in reaction to the ongoing campaign against him. Civil servants rarely challenge their bosses as most of the time they remain concerned about their postings and perks, however, those who challenge have strong nerves and courage to stand against the wind.

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

Apparently, the drive has forced the IGP to write a letter to the bosses sitting at the helm of affairs, for maintaining his position and repute.

The lines of the letter addressing Chief Commissioner Islamabad, confirm the notion.

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

The sources claim that a group of officers currently working in federal police is closely linked to the Interior Ministry while bypassing their boss, the Inspector General of Police. The officers in the said group, according to the sources, have been posted in Islamabad for last several years and due to their strong connections nobody challenges them. However, Tariq Masood Yasin the Chief of the capital police has dared challenging them, following which he started facing conspiracies by none other than his own juniors. 

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

He said that he aptly replied the said letter.

In continuation of his letter, Tariq Masood Yasin also confirmed his statement of July 14, 2016.

Yasin on the said date had said that police foiled anattack while working on a tip off from the Inter Services Intelligence, regarding threats to sensitive buildings and installations. Two groups comprising 13 terrorists had planned to carry out 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.

Soon after the publication of the said statement, the Interior Ministry issued a rebuttal, apparently to belittle the senior police officer. Though the officer did not respond to the letter at that point of time, presumably for maintaining good relationship with the bosses of Interior Minister, however in his latest letter he maintains his position of July 14,2016 in writing.

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 threat situation was averted by the grace of Almighty Allah.

In the letter, the Inspector General of Police also pointed out another previous incident in which he was made responsible, whereas it was a mistake of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office.

The IGP Islamabad also pointed out clear interference of Interior Ministry and the Chief Commissioner office in the internal posting/transfer matters of Islamabad Police and, between the lines, he exposed how much helpless an IGP is. While mentioning about the postings of two officers of Islamabad Police as Superintendent of Police Saddar and Assistant Inspector General he said that , “Police Order 2002 permits IGP , to issue transfer orders of an SSP and below ranks, however they were still turned down when the chief commissioner asked for it and was sent a proposal in the interest of congenial working atmosphere”.

Tariq Masood Yasin added that usage of operational vehicles by IGP Islamabad was questioned, at which it was told that only authorised number of vehicles was being used for operational purposes, in the wake of prevailing security threats to senior police officers in the country.

The officer, whose services have recently been sought by the 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 Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also wrote that the competent authority many a times appreciated the leadership qualities of the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad. He clearly mentioned some of the key steps taken by him the better policing in federal capital which included IT initiatives, establishment of counterterrorism force, community policing, accessibility to citizen, use of latest communication technologies, operationalisation of Safe City, ICT Police Communications, Specialised Homicide Investigation Units, promotion of about 700 officers which was pending for last many years was also done in his tenure.

He also claimed that upgradation of police hospital, welfare of constabulary etc, were also carried out during his short tenure, which is touching one year on April 13, 2017.