IGP to pay ‘surprise’ visits to police stations across Punjab

Jul 31, 2019

LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz Khan on Tuesday announced that he would pay surprise visits to police stations in many districts from next month.

He said the district police officer (DPO) of the relevant place would be held accountable in case of any violation of SOPs.

The IGP was presiding over a video link conference at the Central Police Office about the police stations reforms, Youm-i-Shuhada Police and Eid security plan. The RPOs and DPOs participated in the conference.

The IGP said CCTV cameras installed at the SHO rooms and lockups should have at least one week’s backup/ data to produce video recording of any untoward incident in court as evidence and also for a transparent departmental inquiry.

“Legal and departmental action will be taken against the circle officer and the SHO over illegal custody, torture and escape from custody,” he said. He said the DPOs would be held directly responsible in case of death in custody in police stations of their respective areas.

Mr Khan directed the RPOs and DPOs to devise Eid security plan for the cattle markets and shopping centres and enhance patrolling.

He directed the CCPO Lahore, the RPOs, CPOs and DPOs to organise Youm-i-Shuhada events in their respective regions on Aug 4. He said the families of martyrs should be invited as chief guests to pay tribute to their sacrifice.

“Every senior police officer should visit the monuments, graves and families of martyrs.”

He said strict departmental action would be taken if any officer is found guilty of slackness in addressing the complaint of family of any martyr.

The IGP directed the officers to improve the working of police stations under their management. “Refresher courses for the officials of operations and investigation wings should be completed at the earliest and officials should also be trained in public dealing and stress management to carry out their professional duties with excellence,” he said.

He said all the officers should keep their doors open for complainants and citizens and should give exemplary punishments to the officers and officials found guilty of abuse of power and misbehaviour with the public.

He said senior officers should start surprise visits of the police stations to improve their working. “Police stations should complete record report and share it with the Central Police Office till Sept 1,” he said.

Addl IG Establishment Ahmad Latif, Addl IG Training Tariq Masood Yasin, Addl IG D&I Azhar Hameed Khokhar, Addl IG Operations Inam Ghani, Addl IG PHP Chaudhry Manzoor, Addl IG Welfare and Finance Rao Sardar, Addl IG Logistics and Procurement Ghulam Rasool Zahid, Addl IG Elite Shahid Haneef, Addl IG CTD Muhammad Tahir Rai, DIG Headquarters Syed Khurram Ali, DIG D&I Ahsan Younas, DIG Logistics Rai Babar Saeed and other senior officers attended the conference.

(Daily Dawn)

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