ISLAMABAD: The police welfare funds for the needy personnel and the members of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty are being utilised to meet the expenses of the law enforcement officials performing their duties at the PAT and PTI sit-ins, police officials told Dawn on Thursday.

The capital police were provided Rs226.77 million, which were spent on the force between August 10 and 24, the officials said, adding that Rs64.13 million were spent from August 10 to 14 - Rs15 million was spend on food, Rs11.75 million on vehicles, Rs6.9 million on fuel, Rs29.48 million on security equipment and Rs1 million on miscellaneous expenses.

Similarly, Rs54 million were spent from August 15 to 19 – out of which Rs24.5 million was spent on food, Rs16.5 million was used for vehicles, Rs12 million was spent on fuel and Rs1 million for miscellaneous expenses, the police officials said.

Furthermore, Rs108.65 million were spent during August 20 to 24 – Rs44.52 million on food, Rs30.65 million on vehicles, Rs29.48 million on fuel and Rs4 million on miscellaneous expenses.

Interior ministry yet to release funds for capital police, forcing them to use welfare funds to meet expenses

Since the government has not yet released any further funds to the police to meet these expenses, they said, the expenses are being from the police welfare fund.

The capital police have a budget of Rs5.82 billion, but there is no share for welfare in it, they said, adding that the welfare funds are arranged by the officials of the capital police from their own salaries, from which the amount is deducted on a monthly basis.

Some philanthropists and businessmen of the city also contribute to the fund, the sources said.

The fund is used for helping needy policemen, to finance their children’s education and family’s medical expenditures, they said, it is also used to give financial support to the families of the deceased policemen who lost their lives on duty.

But now, due to the unavailability of funds, the capital police is spending this fund on the policemen performing duties at the sit-ins, they said, adding that some food and fuel was also being purchased on credit.

A police officer told Dawn that a separate request was made to the interior ministry for funds worth Rs268 million that were to be utilised between August 25 and September 5, but the funds had not been released so far.

“The amount is yet to be released, but it has already been spent,” he said, “Now, it will be used to pay back the credit and reimburse the welfare fund.”

“The Central Police Office of Islamabad is now about to make another request for funds for the period since September 5 till now,” he added.

A report has also been prepared over the sit-in, which will be presented to the prime minister, he said. The report includes details of expenses, protesters, police arrangements, number of personnel, road blocks and security measures of the city, the official said, adding that a plan to crackdown the protesters, if needed, is also a part of the report.

According to the plan, 350 teams – each comprising of three personnel – have been constituted, they said, adding that “two members of the team will be armed with batons and one will be equipped with handcuffs to arrest the protesters”.

The teams will raid from the front and the personnel of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will support them from the back, they said, these teams will be kept hidden in the building and the streets leading towards the Constitution Avenue.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014