RAWALPINDI: Following delays in the establishment of ‘front desks’ at 14 police stations in the city, the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, on Thursday directed the regional police officer (RPO) to personally supervise the task.

The IGP visited the Civil Lines, Cantt and Waris Khan police stations and inspected the under-construction front desks.

He directed RPO Mohammad Sultan Raja to supervise the project and complete it as soon as possible. The original deadline of May 23, which was set by the IGP, has not been met.

The project, under which ‘front desks’ are being set up in 14 stations in a bid to end thaana culture, has been allocated Rs7 million in public funds. Of the Rs7 million, Rs500,000 have been allocated for the construction of separate rooms in each police station.

Among the 14 stations is also the only women police station in the city, located near the Chaklala garrison.

The station did not meet the deadline, but earlier this week the station house officer claimed it would only take another 24 hours to complete construction and set up a front desk.

She added that although the number of FIRs registered with the women police station is low, establishing a front desk would help narrow the gap between the police and the public.

As the original deadline approached, Mr Raja also inspected the Banni, Waris Khan and New Town stations last Saturday.

He was disappointed by the pace of construction, and expressed his displeasure to both Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters Raja Taifoor and DSP Waris Khan Mirza Zaman Raza and directed the construction be completed by Sunday evening.

However, the deadlines set by the RPO and the IGP were missed, and construction was still ongoing after May 23.

Following the IGP’s visit, the RPO said the front desks would be set up and functional within the next two weeks.

By the end of this week, construction will be completed, and [the desks] will start working during next week,” Mr Raja said.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016