LAHORE: Punjab IG Dr Usman Anwar has ordered immediate dismantling of all the ‘unauthorised’ police posts (chowkis) across the province following reports that police were using a majority of them for corrupt practices. He also ordered the removal of all ‘illegal’ lock-ups from these police posts besides putting a complete ban on conducting investigation into cases at the posts. There were reports that the police officials were using the posts in-question for allegedly illegal detention of suspects, extortion, torture and other criminal activities. Similarly, it was reported that many political elites were also using them through the local police to ‘teach a lesson’ to their opponents.
An official said the matter of illegal practices was brought into the notice of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) during a meeting held at the Central Police Office here the other day. He was briefed that many police officials were using these posts (chowkis) for ‘ulterior motives.’ These ‘illegal’ check posts were established by the police without seeking approval from the competent authorities, the meeting was informed. The official said it shocked the participants when they were specifically informed that these posts were largely used for illegal detention of the suspects, ‘third degree’ torture, extortion and other such corrupt practices.
Following the information, the IG issued an official letter addressing all the regional, city and district police officers and directing them to abolish all the ‘unauthorised’ police posts across the province. “The IG Punjab has ordered immediate abolition of all unauthorised police posts (chowkiat) of the province, as most of them remain unsupervised by officers and are being used for corrupt practices,” reads the official letter issued on Sunday. It stated that the Punjab police chief set the May 8 (Monday) deadline for ensuring implementation of the above orders in letter and spirit.
“In case you have good reasons for not abolishing the police posts, it may continue after approval of the RPO concerned and the IG police Punjab”, reads the letter. The approval must be obtained no later than Tuesday (May 9), it stated adding that no police post shall operate in any part of the province without the mandatory requirements. In order to run the police posts (chowkis), the letter directed the RPOs, DPOs and other police officers to establish front desks and install closed circuit TV cameras at all the posts.
Similarly, it said under a new policy there should be no lock-up in any police post except where the respective police station is 50 kilometers away. The lock-up should be monitored by the CCTVs and authorised by the RPO concerned under intimation to the Punjab police chief, reads the letter. It stated that the prime role of establishing the [authorised] police posts was to prevent crime, arrest hardened criminals including proclaimed offenders, court absconders and to respond to the incidents besides other routine matters.
“In future all arrests must be made, investigated and conducted at the police stations”, the letter said. The IG has further directed the RPOs and other field police officers to complete the installation of cameras and front desks at the authorised check posts by Wednesday till (tomorrow).
(Daily Dawn)
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