RAWALPINDI: The Punjab home department has stopped police officers from meeting foreign delegations and diplomats without prior permission from the Ministry of Interior.

According to a letter written to the Punjab police and the prison department, the home department expressed its concern over police officers’ meetings with foreign diplomats and other foreigners without the approval of the competent authorities.

The letter stated that the recent meeting of police officers with US diplomats was a serious violation of the government’s instructions issued to the police in December 2014.

A senior police officer, who requested not to be named, said it was not for the first time that the government had taken notice of police officers’ meeting with foreign diplomats.

The issue had already been taken up after some senior police officers held a meeting with US diplomats in Lahore without the permission of the higher authorities.

“According to the code of conduct, the officers of attached departments/organisations of the home department will meet foreigners, including diplomats, only after the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Home Department.”

The home department warned that no police officer shall meet any foreign diplomat or representative of foreign agencies without the approval of the competent authorities.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2015

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