RAWALPINDI, Dec 2: District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiyani on Tuesday warned the police against illegally detaining the citizens at police stations.

Speaking to the officials of Westridge police station during his visit, the Nazim said the illegal detention of citizens would be viewed seriously and officials concerned taken to task. He asked the police officials to arrest the wanted people according to the law in stead of detaining them illegally for questioning.

Mr Kiyani exhorted them to crack down on drug-traffickers, burglars, thieves and car/motor bike-lifters. He said the police department needed improvement and their efforts to curb crime must be concerted and effective.

The Nazim said improvement in watch and ward system and patrolling could help better the situation and contain crime. Speaking on the issue of investigation and challan preparation, he said, mere registration of cases was not enough and it must be followed by rapid a investigation, preparation of challan and its submission to the court.

The police station record, the district nazim pointed out, was incomplete at most of the police stations. “This lethargic attitude must be done away with, as maintaining record is a legal requirement,” he added.

It may be recalled that during his visit to the city recently, Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had suspended a deputy superintendent of police for not checking the record of the police station.

Mr Kiyani told the police officials that the general condition of cleanliness at the police stations was extremely poor and needed their immediate attention.