LAHORE - Senior Superintendent Police (Operations) Lahore Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq has refused to work under newly appointed DIG Operations Amjad Javed Saleemi claiming that the post of SSP has been made 'dummy' as all the powers now rest with the latter. The annoyed police officer (BS-19) was enjoying the powers of DIG (Bs-20) since he was posted but he 'lost interest after he lost powers'. It has been made imperative for the government through Police Order 2002 to create the posts of DIGs and SSPs in both wings of the city police - Operations and Investigations Wing. But since promulgation of the police order, the post of DIG Operations was lying vacant in the City. An SSP ranked police officer was given additional charge of DIG Operations. This is for the first time that DIG post has been filled, a factor that caused annoyance to the incumbent SSP. A senior police officer close to the SSP Operations, told The Nation that in a meeting with Inspector General Police Punjab Khawaja Khalid Farooq, the SSP had expressed his inability to continue his job requesting to transfer him to any other suitable post. Chaudhry Shafiq also approached the governor through some PPP leaders to settle the issue. He is abstaining from attending office and had done no official work since the DIG Operations has taken the charge of his office. Furthermore, Shafiq is neither attending official meetings nor is taking part in any other departmental activities. The police officer said that after posting of DIG Operations Saleemi, Shafiq thinks that SSP's post has been made 'dummy' one. He is of the view that he will be unable to command the police force as all the powers including transfers and postings of the SHOs will be at the disposal of the DIG. He said Chaudhry Shafiq had sought the help of a senior Pakistan People's Party leader to convince the IGP as well as Punjab governor for his transfer to any other place. The SSP told the PPP leader that since his office was in the use of newly appointed DIG Operations and it is impossible for a senior police officer to continue his work as SSP without an office, staff and other necessary facilities. He said Chaudhry Shafiq had also informed the PPP leaders that he could continue his job only if he has been given powers for the transfer and postings of his subordinates and to award them punishment and reward. In the absence of these powers, the SSP said, it would be difficult to command the police. Sources in the police department said that there were reports that SSP Shafiq was among those senior police officers including 12 SPs of Lahore who have been transferred in a massive reshuffle in police hierarchy after the imposition of Governor's Rule in Punjab. The sources said the name of Chaudhry Shafiq was also included in the list of those senior police officers who were likely to be transferred but on the intervention of some PPP's senior leaders his name was eliminated from the list. The party leaders who made efforts for him had assured the governor that he would remain subservient to the party leadership. They also supported the idea of transferring some powers to the SSP. However, none of his powers had been restored and he is still working as powerless SSP Operations as he is neither enjoying protocol nor any other necessary facilities. There was a concept among the police officers that posts of SSPs, in both the wings, are considered to be dummy ones. So the SSP has started efforts for his transfer to any other place.