rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK), April 15: Recently promoted retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police, Raja Irfan Salim (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), has said that every deserving officer has the right to promotion even after retirement and no one should be deprived of that right due to political victimisation or personal prejudice.
Speaking during an informal interaction with journalists at Kashmir Press Club Mirpur on Tuesday, Irfan Salim expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty, his supporters, and the incumbent AJK Prime Minister for ensuring what he described as his rightful promotion after retirement.
He stated that attempts had been made to deny him his due promotion before retirement despite his eligibility, but said destiny, honour, sustenance, and humiliation remain in the hands of Allah Almighty.
Reflecting on his more than 35-year career in AJK Police, Salim said he always received strong support from the public and media in efforts to combat crime and maintain law and order across the region. He added that close cooperation between law enforcement, citizens, and journalists had significantly helped police in maintaining peace and controlling criminal activities during his service.
He praised the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for their hard work, loyalty, and global achievements, noting that Kashmiris have earned recognition internationally through dedication and commitment in all fields of life. He particularly highlighted the role of overseas Kashmiris in strengthening Pakistan’s economy and enhancing the global image of the Kashmiri community.
Criticising the previous AJK government, Salim alleged that incompetent officials had damaged the state’s administration and governance, particularly in Mirpur. He held former district administrative and police officials responsible for unrest in the region and called for judicial inquiries into major incidents, including the martyrdom of police officer Adnan Qureshi and the burning of KFC in Mirpur.
Explaining his delayed promotion, Salim said that before his retirement in January 2025, the post of DIG Reserve was vacant and he was the only eligible officer for promotion. However, he claimed he was denied advancement due to prejudice and political hostility despite submitting appeals to the Inspector General of Police.
Following the change of government in November 2025, he again appealed to the current Prime Minister, after which Additional Chief Secretary Zaheer Qureshi was appointed to review the matter. Salim said the hearing process led to his promotion after nearly four months.
He alleged that certain groups attempted to block his promotion and later launched false propaganda against him through fake social media accounts when their efforts failed.
Concluding his remarks, Irfan Salim thanked Allah Almighty for his successful career and expressed appreciation to fellow police officers, junior staff, and other departmental officials who worked alongside him in maintaining law and order throughout his service.