LAHORE: Alarmed by the shooting incident at Peshawar airport, Punjab police have decided to take special measures around all such establishments in the province to ensure foolproof security of planes during their take off and landing.
The decision was taken at the first meeting of regional police officers (RPOs) called by Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera here on Saturday.
Police would continue search operations in residential areas around the airports and data of the residents would also be collected and maintained, decided the meeting where Mr Sukhera asked his team to resist pressure in professional matters.
“I will stand by the honest and committed officers and officials. There is no place in the department for the corrupt policemen who are defaming the uniform,” he said.
Compulsory DNA test in rape cases among other decisions
The meeting decided that the IG would himself monitor the incidents of dacoity, dacoity-cum-murder and kidnap for ransom.
It was decided to register internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Punjab to single out miscreants in the backdrop of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.
It was decided surprise pickets would be set up in cities and the permanent ones would be removed to ease citizens. However, the police pickets set up at the entry and exit points of cities would remain functional to check the movement of criminals and terrorists.
The meeting decided to withdraw Elite Police from security duties and regular police from the guard duty of serving and retired police officers. DNA test in rape cases was declared compulsory.
It decided to reactivate anti-riot forces to avoid Model Town-like happenings, and to hold short-courses and issue new instructions for policemen.
The meeting decided to hand over interrogation of terror suspects to the counter terrorism department (CTD) and hire the best legal experts for judicial inquiries. It finalised a strategy to end the culture of custodial killings and escape of accused persons from court premises.
Morning drill at the Police Lines on every Monday was declared compulsory. The officers were directed to ensure cleanliness at the police headquarters, or face action.
The IG asked his team members to ensure foolproof security at mosques during Ramazan and order frisking of people with metal detectors and walk through gates during Taraveeh prayers.
Earlier, he said police would have to work jointly to remove the stigma of the Model Town incident. The field officers should leave no stone unturned to ensure justice rather than conniving with influential persons.
Mr Sukhera said he would never compromise on the dignity of police force no matter he stayed in his office for one year or a single day. Only the efficient officials and officers would be given promotions, he added. He said around 500 new vehicles would be provided to police by the end of this year. As many as 200 new vehicles had already been approved and would be given to police within two to three months. At least one armoured personnel carrier (APC) would be given to police in each district during the next fiscal year, he announced.
The meeting also reviewed in detail the cases of murder, sectarian killings, extortion, kidnap for ransom, rape, robbery, dacoity-cum-rape, robbery-cum-murder and arrest of proclaimed offenders and police encounters. Every RPO briefed the IG about the current crime situation in his jurisdiction.
Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2014
