RAWALPINDI: Punjab Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera is furious at police officers for filing ‘fictitious’ reports about their counter-terrorism activities in the province and directed them to shape up to the task.

“By submitting fictitious figures, the police officers are deceiving themselves and such practice must be stopped,” the IGP told all divisional, regional, district and city police chiefs in a recent communication.

IGP Sukhera ordered that “meaningful snap checking” should be carried out under the supervision of regional and district police officers, otherwise disciplinary action will be taken against them.

Accordingly, Rawalpindi RPO Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja has made it clear to his subordinate officers that bloated and untruthful record of search operations, and people arrested, “would not save their skin”.

“I have directed the CPO and all the DPOS to do proper work and maintain the record of original search operations. Whether they are few or more don’t get into a number game,” the RPO told Dawn.

IGP Sukhera also ordered police officers to review the system of ‘Nakabandi’ (blockades) and to ensure that police personnel deployed there are “well-equipped and well protected behind sand bags”.

A spokesman for RPO Rawalpindi said 628 search operations had been carried out in Rawalpindi district since implementation of National Action Plan against terrorists and extremists began on December 17, 2014, in which 48,306 individuals were investigated and 61 were arrested on suspicion.

Similarly, in Attock 14,518 individuals were investigated and 220 arrested in 476 such operations; in Jhelum 1,314 people were investigated and 137 arrested in 98 operations; and in Chakwal 10,719 people were investigated and 101 arrested in 850 search operations.

In the meantime, intelligence also told the Rawalpindi city police to conduct search operations in Shakarial, Sadiqabad, Dhoke Syedan and Naseerabad areas but the police were reluctant to work and document the population.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015

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