ISLAMABAD: Station house officers (SHOs) have been threatened with disciplinary action if they do not lose weight, police officials said on Saturday.

According to a circular issued from the office of the inspector general of police, it has been observed that police officers, particularly SHOs at various stations in the capital are overweight and their waists measure over 40 inches.

The circular also asked for senior superintendents of police and moharrars (station clerks) to be replaced with officials who are university graduates.

Police high-ups have emphasised the physical fitness of police officers as well as the posting of well-educated officials as station clerks at all of the capital’s police stations.

The circular said that these officials were not physically fit for the police department, as they do not pay attention towards their physical fitness and turnout, which are mandatory for a disciplined force like the police.

It said that a lack of fitness had direct bearings on the police’s service delivery, and compromises efficiency and responsiveness.

The circular has given SHOs a month to lose weight and reduce their waist measurements to 38 inches. Departmental action will be initiated against SHOs who do not lose weight and fail to meet the desired physical fitness level.

The circular also said that the behaviour of moharrars with the public at police stations has been below the expected standard.

The SSP operations and zonal superintendents of police have been asked to replace all clerks with officials who hold bachelors degrees - the circular notes that as many have completed their matriculation - and a compliance report in this regard should be submitted to the IGP’s office for perusal.

The directives were issued after they were requested by the minister of interior in an earlier meeting, police officials said.

During the meeting, it was asked that educated officials should be posted at the police’s front desk. In addition, computer literate women should also be posted at the front desk when required.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2017