Police Set up Human Rights Cell, Women Desk in Vehari

Aug 17, 2017

LAHORE: IGP Arif Nawaz Khan has said security of worship places, churches, educational institutions in particular institutions running co-education system should be beefed up and panic buttons should be in working condition in all educational institution throughout the province, especially in A and B category institutions. 

He said monitoring of inter-provincial check posts (Remote Search Parks) be ensured at any cost and all the vehicles and public passing these check posts should be checked accordingly and the officials posted at these check posts should be briefed by the officers concerned regularly. 

Showing annoyance over the murder of a kidnapped boy in Sheikhupura, the IGP directed RPO and DPO, Sheikhupura, to arrest the criminals involved in this heinous incident. He expressed these views while addressing a video link RPOs conference at Central Police Office on Wednesday. 

The conference was attended by DIG Operations Punjab, Aamir Zulfiqar Khan, DIG Special Branch Punjab, Zaeem Sheikh, AIG Operations, Waqar Abbasi, AIG Logistics, Rai Baber Saeed, AIG Monitoring, Ahsan Younas and other senior police officers.

AIG Operations while giving the briefing to IGP has disclosed that during the last 15 days 813 A category proclaimed offenders was arrested under the ongoing special campaign against the proclaimed offenders and anti-social elements throughout the province and the raids were in process to arrest the other criminals. During the conference the IGP said RPOs and DPOs personally monitor the ongoing special campaign against the proclaimed offenders, terrorists and anti-social elements.

The districts fail to show performance regarding the arrest of POs and anti-social elements will be served letters of displeasure, he added. The IGP directed the RPOs and DPOs that combing, search and intelligence based operations (IBOs) should be supervised by DPO himself of at least an officer rank of ASP / DSP. He directed the officers during conference that the cleanliness of weapons and regular firing practice of police force in all districts should be ensured and no laxity will be tolerated in this regard.

Rescue 1122: Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), Dr Rizwan Naseer carried out a performance review of Patient Transfer Service (PTS) of the last six months at the Emergency Services Headquarters. The provincial monitoring cell briefed the DG that the PTS has shifted over 100, 000 emergency critical patients from lower to higher specialised healthcare facilities in Punjab during the last six months. The DG said: “We are working in close coordination with Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department to facilitate the public in provision of healthcare facilities.” Dr Rizwan Naseer said following the Turkish Healthcare System, Punjab has begun overhauling its healthcare system under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said Turkish Model shows that it is quite possible to achieve major improvements in healthcare performance in a relatively short period of time while utilising available resources strategically.
According to some reports, jirga system has been prevailing in southern Punjab, particularly in Multan, Dera Gazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions where human rights violations and crime against women, including forced marriages, rape, acid attack and honour killing are rife.

In some incidents artists, especially those performing on stage were also subjected to violence.

“The new initiatives - human rights cell and women desk - would solely address such issues and if proved successful, these facilities would be replicated, first at all police stations of the district and then in the entire province”, the DPO said.

About the human rights cell, Mr Saeed said, initially it would work under the DPO’s supervision and comprise trained police officers of inspector and sub-inspector ranks.

He said members of Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industries would also be a part of the cell.

“It is a joint venture of police as well as the local chamber of commerce and industry and on receiving any complaint, police would act along with the members of the chamber,” he said.

He said following a joint initial inquiry, the cell would propose action against the suspects, referring the case to the investigation officials.

The DPO said the cell would also house a separate investigation wing headed by an inspector to proceed the case to bring the culprits to the book for provision of speedy justice.

He made it clear that the cell had been fully authorised to take action against those committing violations of human rights.

He said the cell would also deal cases of police torture, violence against minorities, child abuse, illegal detention, child labour, and issues related to transgender community and disabled persons.

About the Women Desk, Mr Saeed said, it would be run jointly by women from various professions, comprising a senior lady police official, a lawyer, a local councillor and a parliamentarian.

He said the members of the desk would probe the incidents of violence against women, including acid throwing, forced marriages, honor killing harassment, domestic violence, gang rape, vani and inherited property matters.

“The purpose of these facilities was to uphold the dignity of people, especially the women, as mentioned in article 14 of the Constitution of Pakistan,” the DPO concluded.

(Daily Dawn)

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