LAHORE: A first information report (FIR) will be registered against the district police officer (DPO), deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and station house officer concerned in case of torture or death in custody while the SHO involved in such incidents would be blacklisted for posting at any police station.

This was stated by Inspector General Police (IGP) retired Capt Arif Nawaz Khan while addressing a video link conference of the regional police officers (RPOs), city police officers (CPOs) and DPOs held at Central Police Office on Sunday.

Mr Khan said the DPOs unaware of the happenings of their relevant offices and police stations had no right to remain on the post.

IGP says DPOs unaware of their offices’ affairs have no right to hold post

The IGP directed the RPOs and DPOs to increase surprise visits and inspection and in case of any illegal detention, get the officials involved arrested in the same police station and take immediate strict departmental and legal action.

Regarding security of Muharram, Mr Khan said a four-layer security system should be provided to all the main processions and Majalis of 9th and 10th of Muharram in the province. He directed the DPOs to patrol with A category processions to review security arrangements in sensitive districts. He further asked for aerial monitoring of the main processions via drone cameras besides monitoring through CCTV cameras, walk-through gates and other modern equipment.

The IGP emphasised posting snipers on the routes of main processions, mosques, and imambargahs where police officials should be deputed in civvies while route of A category processions must also be scanned and screened before start of the procession.

Additional IG Operations Inam Ghani briefed the meeting on Muharram security, saying 150,000 policemen and volunteers would perform duty across Punjab.

In the conference, Addl IG Discipline and Inspection Azhar Hameed Khokhar, Addl IG Operations Inam Ghani, Addl IG Special Branch Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh DIG CTD retired Capt Sohail Chaudhry, DIG Operations retired Capt Atta Muhammad, DIG Ahsan Younas, AIG Operation Imran Kishwar, AIG Admin Hassan Raza Khan along with other senior officers were present while all RPOs and DPOs from across Punjab participated through the video link.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2019