LAHORE, May 14: The Punjab police has sought permission of the government for creation of three regions in the province that would be headed by additional IGPs.

The proposed administrative restructuring is a step towards full implementation of the Police Order 2002, in the light of decisions taken recently by President Pervez Musharraf, official sources informed Dawn on Friday.

The Punjab had confined implementation of the new law only to the extent of giving the status of ex-officio secretary to the IGP with full administrative and financial powers, introduction of the Lahore Capital City Police, creation of district safety commissions and separation of investigation from general law and order functions of police in Lahore.

It has now constituted a committee under Law Minister Raja Basharat to ensure full implementation of the law by October in the light of decisions taken by the president, allowing the provincial governments and Zila Nazims control over police and eliminating the provincial safety commission.

According to sources, creation of three regions - Southern, Northern and Central - has been proposed, each to be headed by an additional IGP having full powers of the IGP with regard to recruitment and discipline in their areas of jurisdiction.

The range DIGs in these regions would continue to function under the AIGs who would be given office staff and logistic support in the form of a separate police establishment.

The southern region would comprise districts of the defunct Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur divisions. The headquarters would be in Multan.

The northern region would comprise districts of the defunct Rawalpindi and Sargodha divisions with its headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The central region would comprise districts of the defunct Faisalabad, Sheikhupura and Gujranwala divisions with its headquarters in Sheikhupura. The Sheikhupura crime range now comprises Kasur and Okara districts which were placed under it after elimination of the Lahore crime range in 2002.

Sources said that after approval of the scheme, an additional IG would also be appointed in Lahore in place of the present DIG (CPO) who is a BS-20 officer. The head would be called the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).

In big cities like Multan and Faisalabad, DIG-rank officers would be posted as City Police Officers in place of the SSPs. In rural areas, SSP-rank officers would be posted as District Police Officers (DPOs).According to the sources, after implementation of this plan under the Police Order, powers of the IGP (Provincial Police Officer) would be devolved to the CCPO, heads of regions (AIGs) and CPOs, allowing them to regulate all matters of recruitment, training, postings, transfers, promotions, arms, drill, discipline, clothing and distribution of duties.

They said the IGP would be left with control over only small districts through the DPOs. The plan would be implemented after amendments to the rules of business, they said.