ISLAMABAD: The capital police have 5,132 personnel to protect the lives and property of over 2.4 million population of the city, officials told Dawn.

The operations division of the capital comprises different units and wings, including 28 police stations, the Counter-Terrorism Department, patrolling squads, anti-riot force operation division, and the traffic unit and Rescue 15. It protects the lives and property of the people as its primary duty, while its secondary duty is to curb crime and arrest culprits.

However, the division has a manpower of 5,132 personnel, and out of the total, only 1,313 are available for the 28 police stations of the capital. Officials told Dawn that the strength for a police station was sanctioned after conducting surveys and studying the limits/jurisdiction of the police station.

During the last 25 years, the number of police stations rose to 28 from 10, so their jurisdictions were also distributed, but the sanctioned strength of the police stations was slightly changed. Besides, there was no sanctioned strength for at least 13 police stations.

Officials say 13 police stations still without sanctioned strength as police face staff shortage

In 2000, there were only 10 police stations – Aabpara, Kohsar, Bhara Kahu, Secretariat, Sihala, Industrial Area, Margalla, Golra, Tarnol and the Women’s police station in the capital, the officials said, adding that the then SSP Nasir Khan Durrani sanctioned the strength for each and every police station after getting approval from the then IGP.

A dozen police stations were established from 2004 to 2015 in light of the establishment of new residential areas and an increase in crimes, they said, adding that the strength of the police stations was barely changed.

During the period, Shahzad Town, Khanna, Koral, Lohi Bher, Nilore, Banigala, Karachi Company, Golra, Ramna, Sabzi Mandi, Shams Colony, and Noon police stations were established, but all worked without the sanctioned manpower till 2015.

In 2015, the issue was brought to the knowledge of then-IGP Tahir Alam Khan, and he asked to conduct a fresh survey to make changes in the present strength of the police stations. Later, the sanctioned strength was changed according to the requisite needs and the strength was also sanctioned for the few police stations established from 2004 to 2015. The number of police stations rose to 28 from 23 during 2015-2022.

The officials said that 13 police stations – Karachi Company, Women’s, Ramna, Sumbal, Sangjani, Shams Colony, Noon, Banigala, Phulgaran, Khanna, Koral, Kirpa, Humak, and Lohi Bher still have no sanctioned strength.

The Karachi Company police station is working with 48 personnel, Virtual Women police with six officials, Ramna with 47, Sumbal with 48, Sangjani with 51, Shams Colony with 45, Noon with 39, Banigala with 42, Phulgaran with 45, Khanna with 54, Kirpa with 48, Humak with 45, and Lohi Bher with 49. The other police stations have a sanctioned strength, but not a single station has the complete strength.

Margalla has a sanctioned strength of 190 personnel, but operates with 38 officials; Secretariat has 101 sanctioned strength but working with 36 manpower; Aabpara has a sanctioned strength of 200 personnel but has a manpower of 46; Women’s police station has a sanctioned strength of 66 but has 34 officials; and Kohsar has a sanctioned strength of 200 personnel but working with 45 officials.

Likewise, Shalimar has 53 personnel despite having the sanctioned strength of 170 personnel; Golra is working with 46 personnel against the sanctioned strength of 101 officials; Tarnol is working with 54 officials against sanctioned strength of 102 officials.

Similarly, the Industrial Area police have a sanctioned strength of 150 personnel but have 61; the Sabzi Mandi police have a sanctioned strength of 150 officials but have 46. The Shahzad Town police have a sanctioned strength of 102 personnel, but have 54 only; Bhara Kahu has a sanctioned strength of 102 officials but only has 42 staffers, while 40 officials are working at the Nilore police station against the sanctioned strength of 101 personnel.

Moreover, the Koral police have a sanctioned strength of 102 personnel but have 49 officials, while the Sihala police have a sanctioned strength of 101 personnel but only have 36 officials.

The CTD has a sanctioned strength of 931 officials; however, it has only 433 officials. The Anti-Riot Unit of the Operations Division has a sanctioned strength of 966 personnel, but has 414 officials. The Islamabad Traffic Police has a sanctioned strength of 685 officials and is facing a shortage of 81 personnel. The capital police have a total strength of 12,605 officers and officials; however, presently the force has 10,280 officers and officials.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2025