LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) Police have raised serious concerns at the auction of a marquee by the railways’ divisional superintendent (DS) and sought its cancellation with immediate effect, keeping in view the sensitivity and security.

The police took up the issue after the DS office wrote to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to coordinate the handover of the marquee, situated on the premises of the Police Lines, to the person who got it through an auction.

In a letter to the Lahore DS, the PR Police, through DIG Sarfraz Ahmad Falki, pointed out that the marquee was situated within the boundary wall of the Police Lines Headquarters (Lahore) and falls within their administrative and physical control.

The police explained that the marquee was constructed through the contributions of constables and other personnel of the railways police as a welfare initiative for the benefit of the force and their families, particularly those of the martyrs. The facility provides a venue, free of cost, for the marriage ceremonies of daughters of the railways police personnel and it is also utilised for Railways Police operational requirements, retirement ceremonies, Darbar (Ijlas-e-Aam) presided over by the IG of the PR Police and Bara Khana arrangements on Eids. Its primary purpose is, therefore, to promote the welfare of the police personnel and their families.

Say the facility constructed with contributions of personnel can’t be used for commercial activities; term it security risk

“It is both surprising and unjustifiable to contemplate the commercial exploitation of a facility situated within the Police Lines, constructed entirely through the contributions of PRP officers and jawans, and developed for their welfare, particularly when no funds from Pakistan Railways were utilised for its construction. The auction for commercial purposes raises serious questions about permitting a private party to commercially exploit a facility established through the personal contributions of police personnel for their collective benefit,” the letter reads.

According to PR police, the premises also accommodates an Arms Kot,the centralised facility for custody, maintenance, and issuance of weapons utilised by the force,containing approximately 377 rifles and 17 pistols, a wireless room, reserve personnel facility and officials assigned to VVIP/VIP security duties.

“Allowing hundreds of civilians and their vehicles to enter the Police Lines daily for private wedding functions, without the requisite security clearances, including NOCs from the competent authorities where required, would create a grave security vulnerability,” the letter warns.

It mentioned Section 14 of the PR Police Act, 1977 that addresses the transfer of assets and liabilities in accordance with the provisions of the Act upon its commencement. The letter says that PR Police were neither informed nor consulted during the auction process or informed about it while no NOC was obtained from the IG of railways police, and no joint survey was conducted before the issuance of the expression of interest. It raised procedural and legal concerns regarding the validity and propriety of the auction process. The letter questioned the transparency, procedural fairness and raised concerns regarding protection of the interests of railways police.

The police also proposed conversion of the marquee into a multipurpose facility that could address these critical deficiencies by providing a briefing hall for 200–400 jawans before deployment to Quetta, Sibi, and Mach; transit accommodation for approximately 200 jawans; and an operational control room for anti-encroachment activities.

A senior official of PR (Lahore division) rejected the allegations levelled in the letter, terming the PR police claim over the marquee and a petrol pump wrong and baseless.

“In fact, there are two properties—a marquee and a fuel pump that are owned by the PR Lahore admin. Previously, these were used by the police but in 2016, they were handed over to the administration following audit objections and recommendations,” the official, who requested anonymity, explained.

He said the properties were also auctioned in the past, but they (the PR police) didn’t raise any concern.

“I think they want to earn revenue from these properties on their own, which is illegal under the rules and regulations,” he alleged.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2026