LAHORE, Jan 26: The Punjab government is considering a ‘totally independent’ police investigation system in the province after ‘disappointing results’ from the existing setup, senior officials informed Dawn on Thursday.

Confirming the report, Chief Secretary Salman Siddique said work on the idea would be started after the establishment of independent traffic system which was being devised by the Planning and Development chairman.

“It would be a totally independent setup for which new recruitments would be made. Those interested and fulfilling the new criteria would also be taken from the existing police strength. The present system would ultimately be phased out,” he said.

Sources said the government wants to introduce the new system after finding the existing setup useless. There had been no progress with regard to the investigation of cases, they said.

Rather, they said, the existing form of separation of investigation from watch and ward duty of police had increased corruption among police, and problems of the people.

“Investigation police are being given huge money as the investigation cost but its expenditure is doubtful. Those in the investigation wing are working with the traditional police mindset, using traditional methods of investigation. They are neither qualified nor trained to conduct investigation on modern lines,” the sources said.

They said fresh educated people would be recruited for the new investigation police and given training in modern techniques of investigation. Those interested in the existing police department would also be taken if they fulfilled the criteria.

The sources said the new investigation police would work independent of the regular police command. They would be given higher salaries and benefits to save them from corruption. They would also be well equipped, having facilities like DNA tests and forensic laboratories.

The said the new officers would function in plainclothes because the idea was to create a force of investigators like in the developed countries.