Hafizabad DPO Transferred After Alleged Toilet-Use Dispute with MPA’s Son
LAHORE – A police officer has been removed from the post of Hafizabad District Police Officer (DPO) following an alleged altercation with the son of a local ruling-party MPA over the use of the DPO’s office toilet, sources confirmed.
The dispute led to an inquiry conducted by Punjab Inspector General of Police Abdul Kareem on the orders of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who directed the police chief to hear both parties and determine responsibility.
According to a senior police officer, the incident occurred when PML-N MPA Shahid Bhatti visited the Hafizabad DPO’s office along with his young son and some complainants from his constituency. The MPA had come to the office following CM instructions for ruling party parliamentarians to resolve police-related matters of locals in the presence of the district police head.
As the meeting was underway, the MPA’s son entered the office while on a mobile phone call. The MPA reportedly scolded his son for using the phone in the DPO’s office, telling him to disconnect the call as it was against manners.
Later, the youth went to the DPO’s retiring room, likely to use the washroom. When he came out, DPO Kamran Hamid inquired why he had used the personal washroom without permission. The MPA’s son replied that it was a public office, not the DPO’s personal washroom — a response that reportedly embarrassed the DPO in front of visitors.
Sources said both sides exchanged words, and the police officer, in a fit of rage, allegedly told the MPA’s son to “get lost.” The MPA intervened, advising his son to stay calm and leave the office to defuse the tension.
As the MPA left, some accompanying individuals declared the DPO’s conduct an insult to a key political figure, further fueling tensions. Subsequently, a PTI leader posted a critical social media message with the phrase “get lost” alongside a picture of a toilet commode, intensifying the dispute.
The MPA later brought the matter to the attention of PML-N senior leader Saira Afzal Tarar, who took it up with the Chief Minister. The influential political family began lobbying for the DPO’s transfer, while PML-N workers launched a social media campaign against the officer.
The MPA and his son also visited the IGP’s office to complain about the DPO’s unacceptable attitude. When questioned, the DPO reportedly explained that he had only objected to the washroom use because personal belongings and official files were in the retiring room.
However, the IGP was dissatisfied with the explanation and reported his findings to the CM. Subsequently, Kamran Hamid was transferred from the post and posted to the Punjab Safe Cities Authority — a relatively low-profile position.
Soon after the transfer, a social media post attributed to a member of the Tarar family read: “Now you get lost” — an apparent taunt to the outgoing officer.
The incident sparked widespread debate on social media, with many questioning the officer’s conduct and raising discussions about the rights of the public to use government officials’ washrooms. Meanwhile, reports indicate that a group of senior police officers came to Kamran Hamid’s defence, requesting the IGP to post the young officer in a better slot for the dignity of the department and the Police Service of Pakistan
