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PoK Police Unrest as Junior Officer from Punjab Named Top Cop

The appointment of Liaqat Ali Malik, a junior officer from Pakistan's Punjab police, as Inspector General of Police in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has triggered significant unrest. Six senior local officers have formally protested, arguing the move sidelines qualified candidates with longer service and higher credentials. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee has condemned the appointment as a violation of merit and an injustice to local officers. Concerns are raised that Malik's past military association and the perceived imposition from Islamabad could further suppress autonomy and disrupt police command.

Key Points: Unrest in PoK Police Over Junior Officer's Appointment as IGP

  • Junior Punjab officer appointed PoK IGP
  • Senior local officers sidelined
  • Appointment violates merit & seniority
  • Sparks fears of suppressed autonomy
  • Unrest risks police force cohesion
3 min read

Unrest in PoK after local police officers ignored for top post: Report

Senior PoK police officers protest the appointment of a junior officer from Punjab as Inspector General, citing violations of merit and seniority norms.

"Elevation of a comparatively junior officer to the top position is a departure from established service norms - PoK Police Officers' Letter"

Colombo, March 6

The appointment of a junior police officer from Pakistan's Punjab province as Inspector General of Police in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has triggered unrest within the local police force, with six senior officers questioning the decision on grounds of seniority, merit, and institutional morale, a report said on Friday.

It added that Liaqat Ali Malik was serving as a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Establishment in the Punjab Police and was "a Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 20 officer" before being appointed as the new IGP of PoK, a "BPS-22 position".

According to a report in the leading Sri Lankan media outlet 'Daily Mirror', Malik's appointment was enforced despite the presence of several serving BPS-21 officers in the PoK police department, including an additional IGP.

The perception of being sidelined has sparked a strong reaction from the local police officials.

The report stated that following the appointment, the resentful senior police officer from PoK wrote to Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, the region's head of administration, claiming that they had been sidelined by the Islamabad government even after possessing "longer service records, higher academic credentials, and broader national and international exposure". Islamabad used the 1949 Karachi Agreement - which superseded the region's administration and reduced its autonomy -to install Malik.

Raising concerns over Malik's appointment in the presence of several BPS-21 officers from the region, the letter noted: "Elevation of a comparatively junior officer to the top position is a departure from established service norms and has caused unease within senior officers" of the PoK Police and risks affecting "command dynamics and professional cohesion within the force."

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee questioned Rathore regarding the appointment of a junior officer when the region had competent and eligible officials for the IGP position.

"If senior Kashmiri officers are available, why are they not considered for the top position? It is a violation of merit. It is an injustice. Many Kashmiris feared that Malik's tenure may see further suppression of people fighting for autonomy and civil rights," 'Daily Mirror' quoted committee member Shaukat Nawaz Mir as saying.

The report noted that while one Pakistani described Malik as "an extremely imbalanced personality" and unfit for the IGP post, another accused him of atrocities in PoK.

Many Kashmiris cited Malik's past association with the Pakistani Army as a possible reason behind his appointment amid concerns over his eligibility.

"This guy is an utter embarrassment to the police service as he was in the military service," the Lankan daily quoted another Pakistani national, Shahid, as saying.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's heartbreaking to read about the suppression of Kashmiri voices, even within their own administrative systems. The appointment reeks of a strategy to tighten control, not to improve policing. My heart goes out to the people living under such circumstances.
R
Rohit P
Merit and seniority thrown out of the window! If this happened in any Indian state, there would be massive protests and judicial intervention. It clearly shows how PoK is administered—by diktat, not by law or fair practice. The officers' letter says it all.
S
Sarah B
While the report highlights a clear injustice, I hope we also focus on the human cost. The article mentions fears of further suppression of civil rights. That's the real story—how such appointments affect ordinary families striving for a normal life.
V
Vikram M
The 1949 Karachi Agreement being used to justify this is telling. It stripped away autonomy long back. This is not just about a police post; it's about the systematic erosion of any local say in governance. The world needs to see this for what it is.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: Our media often frames PoK issues through a strategic lens. While that's important, we must also amplify the voices of the local Awami Action Committee and officers quoted here. Their struggle for merit and rights is the core issue, beyond geopolitics.
N

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