ISLAMABAD: On the direction of the recently-appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Ahsan Younus, the capital police in a single day registered over 700 pending cases of theft and other crimes.

Moreover, the police chief has directed senior officers to ensure their presence in their jurisdiction after 12pm to ensure effective patrolling and reduce crime.

A number of police stations had made a routine of not registering First Information Reports (FIRs) of theft and other crimes or just mentioned the complaints in their daily registers called Roznamcha. Because of the practice, majority of the complaints failed to get FIRs registered.

The registration of cases is considered a matter of bad repute for the station house officers (SHOs).

But after registration of a case, the FIR is shared with a number of departments and intelligence agencies increasing the chances of arrest of the criminals and recovery of looted/stolen items. However, reports mentioned in Roznamcha are not shared with any law enforcement agency. This practice decreases the chances of recovery of stolen items or action against the culprits.

After intervention by the IGP, the Margalla police registered 120 cases in a single day. One of the cases was reported on February 14 when the police was informed about a motorbike theft. But the FIR could not be registered.

Tarnol police registered 70 cases and one of the applications was submitted to the police on May 21 regarding snatching of a motorbike on gunpoint.

Aabpara police registered 24 cases and the oldest application was about an incident on May 28 in which complainant Mohammad Waqas had alleged that a citizen deprived him of his car.

Secretariat police registered 43 cases and the oldest application was filed on Jan 3 about the theft of a motorbike.

Kohsar police also registered 18 cases and one of the applications was filed on July 30 regarding the theft of a vehicle from Blue Area.

Bhara Kahu police also registered 18 cases and the oldest application was filed on January 26 regarding lifting of a car.

Similarly, the Industrial Area police (I-9) registered 72 cases, Sabzi Mandi and Ramna police 51 FIRs each, Golra police 48 FIRs, Khanna 45, Karachi Company 42, Sihala 29, Shams Colony 23, Shahzad Town police 20, Koral police 11, Banigala police 12 cases, Noon 10, Nilor seven, Loi Bher six and Shalimar police registered four FIRs in a single day.

Meanwhile, three armed persons snatched cash and mobile phones worth Rs1 million from the staff of a bakery in the limits of Industrial Area police on Sunday.

According to a statement, the IGP while chairing a crime meeting at the Police Lines Headquarters directed the officers to remain present in their respective areas from 12pm to 5am to supervise the teams.

He said he would visit to check the presence of senior officers and no laxity would be tolerated.

The meeting was attended by the DIG operations, SSP operations, SSP investigation, zonal SPs, SDPOs, SHOs, Moharars and front desk staff of police stations.

The IGP asked the participants to evolve a comprehensive policy with special focus on criminal elements and crime pockets.

He instructed the police station staff to ensure FIRs’ registration on time, adding the front desk staff was bound to register the case of any missing person in five minutes. In case of delay, the concerned officials would be held responsible.

He said all those coming to police stations should be treated with respect and dignity.

Police counters would be set up at Polyclinic and Pims to facilitate the personnel, he added.

He said the Moharar’s strength would be divided into seven sections with weekly off for each personnel.

There would be at least three Jawans in a patrolling vehicle as well as on each picket during snap checking. All officers on duty must wear bulletproof jackets and helmets.

He directed the officers to expedite crackdown on criminal elements and mobilise the recovery of stolen goods, including the arrest of those involved in heinous crimes.

The IGP also asked them to take measures to further improve public service delivery.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2021