RAWALPINDI: The chief of the Punjab Police has issued new guidelines for the deployment of police personnel at checkposts and directed divisional police chiefs not to deploy any officials who are mentally unwell.

The provincial authorities have also been considering devising a mechanism for the establishment of multi-agency checkposts.

Police have also been directed not to open fire on vehicles that do not stop when asked because the driver may not have the necessary documents, is driving a car without registration plates or is intoxicated.

The inspector general of police (IGP) directed the police to formulate a joint working team of all stakeholders at the district level to devise a joint working mechanism regarding the establishment of multi-agency checkposts.

All divisional and district police chiefs have been directed to brief officials of their respective domains to follow standard operating procedures for deployment at checkposts with the utmost restraint regarding the use of force while performing their duties.

The police were told that an official who is not properly trained or qualified in weapons handling should not be issued a firearms under any circumstances. Information technology tools used for monitoring, such as CCTV cameras, may be installed at all checkposts to curb corruption.

The police have also been directed to make a complaint register available at all checkposts where people’s complaints can be lodged. Police officials deployed at checkposts will be shuffled after a month to minimise corruption.

Divisional police chiefs have also been directed to take disciplinary action against officials involved in corrupt practices or those who misbehave with citizens.

Checkposts must be equipped with barriers, walkie-talkie sets and arms to stop vehicles in needed.

The number of officials at checkposts has also been increased from two to five – one assistant sub-inspector and four constables – after recent attacks on police checkposts, the latest being near the metro bus stand in Saddar in which two officials were martyred and one official was injured. One of the suspected shooters was killed by police in retaliation.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2020