In a significant administrative shake-up, Dr Usman Anwar has been removed from the post of inspector general of Punjab Police and appointed as the new director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The changes were confirmed through an official notification issued by the Establishment Division. The move follows consultations between the federal and provincial leadership and approval by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar has been transferred from his post, ending his tenure as the province’s top police officer. His removal comes as part of a broader reshuffle involving both provincial and federal law enforcement leadership.

Following his transfer, the Punjab government appointed a new police chief to lead the province. Dr Usman Anwar served as Punjab’s police chief for nearly three years, having assumed office on January 24, 2023.

Dr Anwar’s extensive experience at the FIA, including his earlier role as the FIA Lahore director, strengthened his prospects for a senior federal posting. He had also previously served as Punjab Special Branch additional IG and as district police officer (DPO) of Okara and Sargodha, and was Motorway Police additional IG before becoming Punjab IGP.

Rao Abdul Karim appointed new IGP

Senior police officer Rao Abdul Karim has been appointed as the new IGP. The Punjab government had earlier sent three names to the federation for approval before finalising his appointment. The other names included Lahore CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General Waseem Sial.

IG Punjab

Rao Abdul Karim’s elevation marks a key change in Punjab’s policing structure as he assumes charge of the country’s largest provincial police force. He assumed charge on Monday after serving as the additional inspector general of police (AIG) Special Branch, Punjab.

Before his elevation, Rao Abdul Karim held several key command and field positions, including AIG Patrol Police, Gujranwala regional police officer (RPO), deputy inspector general (DIG) training, and Punjab DIG traffic. His appointment was approved by CM Maryam Nawaz.

Federal govt removes FIA DG Mukhtar

At the federal level, the government has removed Raja Rifat Mukhtar from the post of the FIA director general. He has been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with immediate effect.

According to the notification, Raja Rifat Mukhtar will report to the Establishment Division until further orders.

The Establishment Division’s notification states that Rifat Mukhtar’s transfer will be effective immediately and remain in force until further instructions. He is a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan.

Officials confirmed that his removal and new status as OSD formally end his tenure as FIA DG.

Dr Usman appointed FIA DG

Dr Usman Anwar has been appointed as the new director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, replacing Raja Rifat Mukhtar. The appointment was made through a formal notification issued by the Establishment Division.

FIA DG

This posting places Dr Anwar in charge of the country’s premier federal investigative body following his removal as IG Punjab.

An official notification issued by the Establishment Division confirmed all postings and transfers, including the removal of Dr Usman Anwar as IGP, his appointment as FIA DG, and the reassignment of Raja Rifat Mukhtar as OSD.

Who is Rao Abdul Karim?

Rao Abdul Karim belongs to the 24th Common of the Police Service of Pakistan and joined the force in 1996 as an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) after clearing the CSS examination. Over nearly three decades, he has served as district police officer (DPO) in Jhang, Mianwali, and Kasur, gaining experience in both rural and urban policing.

His senior leadership roles include RPO Gujranwala, DIG Telecommunications and Transport in Sindh, and Additional IG Punjab Highway Patrol, where he oversaw highway security and traffic enforcement. Over the past year, he served as IG Special Branch Punjab, a role focused on intelligence and internal security.

Earlier in his career, Rao Abdul Karim also worked as director of immigration at the FIA, dealing with border management and immigration matters.