LAHORE – Additional-IG Punjab Highway Patrolling (PHP), Khan Baig, has been transferred and directed to look after the affairs of the Central Police Office (CPO) since the government is yet to appoint the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Officials said that the Punjab government has transferred Additional-IG (PHP) Khan Baig and posted him as Additional-IG (Punjab). He has also been directed to look after the affairs of the Punjab police till further orders. Similarly, Additional-IG Punjab Malik Khuda Bukhsh Awan has been transferred and posted Additional-IG (PHP) Punjab.  A day earlier, IGP Muhammad Habib-ur-Rehman got retirement after serving in the department for more than three decades.
According to sources, both the PPP-led federal government and the PML-N, the ruling party in the biggest province, are unwilling to appoint the new man of their choice, fearing strong resistance from the opposition parties ahead of general elections.
The Punjab government has given the charge of the IGP slot to Khan Baig till the caretaker setup is decided to ensure transparent elections.
Born in 1954, Baig had joined the Police Service of Pakistan as ASP in 1980. He belonged to Attock district and is recognised as dead-honest and dedicated professional with great experience of policing. Baig is also one of the highly-qualified officers who   served in Karachi, Quetta, and also in several cities of Punjab on key posts.
It was also learnt that the provincial government seriously considered the posting of Additional-IG Traffic Punjab Kalb-e-Abbas as the IGP of the Punjab Police but expressed his unwillingness to become IGP for a few weeks. Kalb-e-Abbas is said to be the most senior officer among those serving in the province.