ISLAMABAD: The Minister of State for Interior, Shehryar Khan Afridi, has appealed to the judiciary not to grant bail to those arrested on charges of committing heinous crimes like drug trafficking and land grab.

Addressing a police passing-out ceremony on Wednesday, the minister urged police to continue the drive against drug peddlers in the capital without fear or favour.

He described the performance of Islamabad police in the recent drive against land grabbers as exemplary.

The anti-encroachment drive would continue as long as the government did not repossess every inch of land encroached upon, Mr Shehryar stated.

Dwelling upon the operation against drug mafia, Mr Afridi said over the past two months, 354 cases had been lodged at different police stations of Islamabad while 385 drug peddlers were arrested.

The minister praised the role of Islamabad police in the war on terror, recalling that 41 of its members had been martyred. Twenty-three of the recruits who passed out this year belong to the families of martyred police officials, he added.

“The federal government has decided to introduce model policing in the capital and the new cadets will prove to be the frontline soldiers of this model,” Mr Afridi stated.

“From now on, young cadets will be visible on Islamabad’s roads and give an example of friendly policing,” the minister stated. “No police official will be allowed to humiliate people.”

Mr Afridi said the government had decided to enhance the capacity of Islamabad police so that it could serve as a role model for other cities. Prime Minister Imran Khan had already announced a special package for Islamabad police, he recalled.

Mr Afridi claimed that the government had cleared all requests submitted by Islamabad police chiefs over the past 11 years. “The capital’s force will get all basic facilities like health and housing.”

Modifications will be made in Islamabad Police Act to equip the force with powers and resources needed to tackle challenges of the day, the minister said.

Mr Afridi said police had recently done what was unthinkable only a few months ago by taking action against land grabbers regardless of their wealth and clout. “Nobody will go off scot-free if he assists the drug and land mafia.” He said those journalists and influential persons who use drugs and provide protection to drug dealers would also be taken to task as per law.

Islamabad IG Mohammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan assured the minister that police would go all-out to turn the government’s vision into reality.

The measures taken by the government to strengthen the force would soon bring about a qualitative change in policing methods, Zulfiqar Khan added.

He assured the minister that Islamabad police would keep the dignity and self-respect of citizens in mind.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2018