July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

LAHORE, July 16: The Punjab police are focusing on expansion and strengthening of the Punjab Constabulary (PC) to make it a specialized force to deal with growing challenge of law and order duties.

“The existing strength of PC is unable to help the police in coping with day to day law and order duties and we are seriously considering strengthening it,” Punjab IGP Ahmed Nasim told Dawn on Monday.

Asked if any proposal was being considered to set up a separate force like the Diplomatic Protection Department in the Islamabad capital territory police for protocol, escort and law and order duties, he said the PC would be equipped with more personnel and other resources to follow the same pattern.

The IGP said the law enforcement agencies were facing new threats/challenges like suicide attacks and terrorism by the extremists, new developments and possible violence in political and judicial scenario.

He said the PC, which was established to help the district police in protecting life and property, restoring public order and peace, would be converted into a full-fledged force to handle law and order and anti-riot activities to lessen the burden of local police.

To a question about changing crime pattern and surge in over all crime, Ahmed Nasim said pro-active policing launched in the province had given positive results.

“Arrest of more than 39,634 proclaimed offenders and 25,400 court absconders, recovery of 38,217 illegal weapons and elimination of 1,844 gangs during the first six months of the current year are the results of aggressive policing,” he maintained.

According to him, 10 per cent reduction in crime had been recorded in crime of heinous nature during the six months as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

Regarding increasing public complaints against the police conduct, he said he had started conducting open courts and set up a special cell in his office to handle the issue.

“I have already entertained 800 complainants in three open courts,” he maintained.