The Lahore High Court (LHC) Wednesday declared the appointment of Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan legal, rejecting the petition seeking his removal from the position for being a grade-21 officer.

Justice Muzammil Akhtar Shabbir issued an 11-page written verdict, upholding the appointment of IGP Rao Sardar Ali Khan.

“Police Order does not mention the grade of a police officer for his appointment as IGP,” reads the verdict.

“The appointment of a grade-22 officer to the post of IGP is not mentioned in the law,” it adds.

“There is no justification for removing the IGP on the basis of being a grade-21 police officer. One of the three senior police officers may be appointed on the recommendation of the federal government,” it decreed.

“Any disagreement between the federal government and the provincial government for the appointment of the IGP has not been proved,” it maintains.

It is to be noted here that Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa had opposed the petition seeking removal of the IGP from the office.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf