ISLAMABAD: Just four months after its formation, the Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF) of the capital police is on the verge of collapse as its officials seem uninterested in working with the force due to a lack of perks and privileges.

A senior police officer told Dawn that so far four officials had resigned while over 20 submitted applications for their transfer to other wings of the police.

In the light of the National Action Plan (NAP), the CTF was constituted with the strength of 970 officials. In January 2018, the CTF started functioning with 380 officials, including 22 policewomen.

Four officials resign and over 20 seek transfer from the force due to lack of perks and facilities

The senior officer said the reason behind the officials’ lack of interest in the force was an unattractive salary package, including perks and privileges. Even an allowance announced by the prime minister was not being given to the officials.

Dealing with terrorism is a very risky job and needs a lot of courage, the officer said, adding the morale of the officials should be kept high which can only be possible with better facilities, appreciation and perks and privileges.

Officials of the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department are getting a CTD allowance of Rs50,000. On other the hand, the prime minister had announced a CTF allowance of Rs7,490 for the officials of the force in the capital.

Initially, the Finance Division raised technical objections over the allowance but later agreed to release it. But at the same time, the Finance Division deducted the special allowance of Rs5,290 from the salaries of the officials.

The special allowance was being given to officials and officers of the police all over the country for the last couple of years.

Moreover, the officials of the CTF are getting the basic pay of 2011 even though they joined the force in 2017, the officer stated.

The matter was brought in the knowledge of the interior minister during his visit to the Police Lines Headquarters in March. The minister promised to resolve the issue and asked the police to approach him in writing.

A recent letter from the SSP addressed to the ministry and the inspector general of the police (IGP) stated that in the backdrop of terrorist attacks across the country the specialised force had been constituted under the name of Rapid Response Force (RRF) which was now working as the CTF. The force was constituted by the prime minister on the pattern of the CTD Punjab.

The prime minister approved one additional pay for the officer/officials of the force as an allowance on the recommendations of the finance division. However, so far this allowance has not been granted due to conflicting interpretations of the prime minister’s summary dated Nov 18, 2015. Now after two years of correspondence, the allowance has been approved at the level of admissibility as on June 30, 2015, which comes out to be nearly Rs2,200 per month per constable.

IGP Dr Sultan Azam Temuri could not be contacted for comments.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018