RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi police have decided to write to the police chiefs of four provinces seeking their help in vacating official residences some senior officers are still occupying despite having been transferred out of the district.

A senior police official said it had been decided that letters would be written to the inspectors general of police (IGPs) of the four provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory seeking their help in getting the official residences vacated.

He said City Police Officer (CPO) Abbas Ahsan had already served notices on all such officials and officers who had been occupying the official residences since long even after being transferred to other districts.

Though low-ranking police officials have responded positively to the notices and vacated some houses, senior officers are still reluctant and giving no response to the notices.

A former Punjab police chief had sought details from the regional police officer (RPO) about the official accommodations available, occupied and required for the newly-posted officers and officials in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.

Thought the district police officers of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal had already sent details of the accommodations to the Central Police Office Lahore, the Rawalpindi police are yet to submit its report to the IGP.

A senior police official told Dawn that a majority of the low-ranking police officials - constable to inspector - had responded positively and vacated government accommodations gradually. But officer cadre police personnel have not been responding to the IGP’s directives and notices.

The police had sought the details of official accommodations in three categories - officials from pay scale 1-5, 7-15 and in pay scale 17 and above.

The shortage of accommodation is due to officials and officers who have been posted out of the district and are serving in other areas but continue to occupy official residences in Rawalpindi.

On the other hand, none of the senior cadre police officers has vacated any house or apartment so that the newly-posted SPs could be accommodated.

According to the police, there are 190 police accommodations in the Rawalpindi district for police officials but nothing available for officer cadre personnel.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2019