28 September 2004	Tuesday	12 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Fiaz Ahmed Khan Toru has asked the government to implement Police Order 2000 in the capital to provide more facilities, including raise in salary, to Islamabad police with a view to improving their performance.

He was speaking at an "awards distribution ceremony" held at CIA Headquarters here on Monday. The IGP said the Police Order had already been implemented in all provinces, where police enjoyed better facilities and salary, unlike the capital police, who were providing additional services to diplomats, top government officials and other dignitaries.

"We are bound to serve citizens," he said, adding that the people questioned the police performance because "we get our salaries from the taxpayers' money". The IGP said efforts were on to make police people-friendly and change 'Thana' culture. He said arrangements were being made to invite senior and respectable citizens to police stations to monitor police performance and to help solve people's problems.

He said as part of revamping of Islamabad Police, the government had released Rs1.72 million for transport. In this connection, 55 inspectors, 188 sub-inspectors and 412 assistant sub-inspectors have also been inducted.

Likewise, a deputy inspector of police, four assistant superintendent of police and eight additional superintendent of police have been inducted. The police authorities are also planning to set up bodies on the patters on Rescue-15 in all sectors of the capital. Community policing has also been launched in Islamabad to check crime, he added.

Answering a question, the IGP said he would enquire about the 'unpleasant' remarks reportedly passed by SP traffic Mehboob Aslam against journalists in a recent meeting with editors of some newspapers. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, the newly posted senior superintendent of police, Islamabad, Liaquat Ali Khan, appreciated cooperation between the police and citizens.