LAHORE: As many as 80,000 policemen and volunteers will perform security duty at 32,585 mosques and imambargahs across Punjab during Ramazan and all regional police officers (RPOs), city police officers (CPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) will personally monitor the security of churches.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) retired Capt Arif Nawaz was chairing a conference of RPOs, CPOs and DPOs at the Central Police Office on Sunday.

Additional Training Inspector General (IG) Tariq Masood Yasin, Addl IG (Operations) Inam Ghani, Addl IG (Welfare and Finance) Sardar Ali Khan, Addl IG Punjab Highway Petrol Manzoor Sarwar Chaudhry, Addl IG (Investigation) Abubakar Khudabaksh, Addl Elite Police Force IG Shahid Hanif, Lahore Capital City Police Officer BA Nasir, Addl IG (Logistics and Procurement) Ghulam Rasool Zahid, Punjab Constabulary Commandant Kunwar Shahrukh, and all RPOs, CPOs and DPOs were present.

IGP seeks report from officers by June 5 of top 20 criminal, anti-social elements

Addl IG (Operations) Mr Ghani said a comprehensive security plan had been devised for the holy month of Ramazan and all available resources would be utilised to implement it. Under the plan, 80,000 police officers, officials and volunteers would perform security duty at 32,585 mosques and imambargahs of the province.

IGP Nawaz directed all DPOs to personally visit and monitor the security of mosques, imambargahs, Ramazan bazaars and other important buildings in their respective areas to ensure the security of citizens at all costs.

He said intelligence-based search, sweep and combing operations should be conducted in the vicinity of all worship places and educational institutes of the province on priority, adding that security of worship places should be tightened during Fajr and Taraveh prayers.

The IGP issued important orders regarding departmental discipline, management and security during Ramazan. He directed all the officers to prepare a list of top 20 criminal and anti-social elements in their respective districts and share a report with his office by June 5.

“I am personally monitoring the crime situation in all districts of the province and indiscriminate action will be taken if any contrary to the facts report is shared,” he added.

The IGP directed the officers to ensure their availability and remain accessible to the public during office hours by eliminating parchi culture. “Any officer delaying action on public complaints will have to face departmental action,” he said, adding that action would be taken against the DPOs without any leniency for causing inappropriate delay in registration of first information reports.

All RPOs gave detailed briefings about the crime situation in their respective regions, the performance of District Complaint Officers and other IT projects, including the front desk.

IGP Nawaz directed to launch a campaign against kite flyers and manufacturers of twine, aerial firing, violators of the loudspeaker act, drug peddlers and dealers in their respective areas. He said departmental and legal action would be taken against those investigation officers responsible for deaths in police custody, torture, helping culprits flee, flawed investigation or distortion of facts.

He said all checkpoints other than those at the entry and exit points of the city should be removed immediately and snap-checking started.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2019