Hafizabad District Police Chief Removed Following Altercation with MPA’s Son

LAHORE: Kamran Hamid, a BS-18 police officer, has been removed from his position as the District Police Officer (DPO) of Hafizabad. The decision followed an investigation conducted by Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem, acting on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, after a dispute involving the son of a ruling party member of the provincial assembly (MPA).

The conflict began when PML-N MPA Shahid Bhatti visited the DPO’s office with his son and several constituents to resolve local police matters, following the Chief Minister’s instructions that parliamentarians facilitate the resolution of public grievances in coordination with district police heads.

According to a senior police officer speaking on condition of anonymity, the tension escalated after the MPA’s son entered the DPO’s retiring room to use the washroom. Upon his exit, DPO Kamran Hamid questioned why the youth had used his personal washroom without authorization. The MPA’s son reportedly responded that since it was a public office, the facility was not the officer’s private property.

The exchange turned heated in front of visitors, and the police officer reportedly told the youth to “get lost.” While the MPA attempted to defuse the situation by advising his son to remain calm and leave, accompanying supporters viewed the officer’s behavior as an insult to a prominent political figure.

The incident gained further traction on social media after a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader posted a critical message featuring a picture of a toilet commode. The MPA subsequently brought the matter to the attention of senior PML-N politician Saira Afzal Tarar, who raised the issue with the Chief Minister.

As the incident became a focal point of local discussion and a social media campaign by PML-N workers, the MPA and his son filed a formal complaint regarding the DPO’s “unacceptable attitude” with IGP Abdul Kareem.

During the inquiry, Mr. Hamid explained that his objection was based on the fact that his personal belongings and sensitive official files were stored in the retiring room. However, the IGP found this explanation unsatisfactory and reported his findings to the Chief Minister.

Consequently, Mr. Hamid was transferred to the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), a position generally considered to be less influential. Shortly after the transfer, a social media post attributed to a member of the Tarar family mocked the outgoing officer, stating, “now you get lost.”

The incident has sparked a wider public debate regarding the conduct of government officials and the rights of the public to access facilities within government offices. Meanwhile, a group of senior police officers has reportedly defended Mr. Hamid, requesting the IGP to assign him to a more suitable role to maintain the dignity of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP).

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