ISLAMABAD: Residents are facing delays in getting First Information Reports (FIR) registered in police stations as well as in the newly-declared model subdivision.

Recently, two such cases came to light in which the complainants suffered at police stations while getting robbery and burglary cases registered.

In September, the police stations of Bhara Kahu, Kohsar, Banigala and Industrial Area were given the status of model subdivision with the appointment of an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of the Police Service of Pakistan as their in-charge.

The move was initiated under the directives of the government as part of police reforms to change the thana culture and improve service delivery.

But Imran Tauqir, a businessman, told Dawn that he had been visiting the model subdivision Bhara Kahu since Dec 25 to get a case registered regarding a burglary in his house.

“I along with my family left for Karachi to attend the funeral of my aunt on Dec 19. I gave keys of my house to a man whom I have known for about two years. On Dec 22, he informed me that someone had burgled into my house.”

Mr Tauqir returned to Islamabad and lodged a complaint at the Bhara Kahu subdivision on Dec 25. But the police refused to register the case.

Mr Tauqir said the police asked him to nominate someone. “In response, I expressed suspicion over the man but the police asked me to mention in his complaint that the man was involved in the burglary. At first I wrote the complaint as the police asked me but later my conscience compelled me to withdraw the allegation against the man.”

On Sunday, the police called Mr Tauqir to the subdivision where he had a long discussion with Watch and Ward In-charge Shoukat Ali and another police official. Later, he lodged a fresh application.

When contacted, Watch and Ward In Charge Inspector Shoukat Ali claimed that the FIR in Mr Tauqir’s case had been registered on Monday.

However, when contacted, Mr Tauqir denied that the FIR was registered.

“I was asked to come to the police station on Tuesday but despite repeated attempts, no one attended my calls.”

About a week ago, retired deputy secretary Sanaullah faced the same situation when he along with 40 residents of Cabinet Division Employees Housing Society in E-16/2 visited the Tarnol police station at 11am to lodge a complaint about a robbery at his house.

They remained at the police station till 3pm but failed to get the case registered as the officials made different excuses to avoid registration of the case. After hectic efforts and intervention of influential people, the police registered the case after sunset.

A police officer on condition of anonymity told Dawn that police either refused or delayed registration of cases with an intention to keep crime figures low on records.

He said non-registration of an FIR meant the crime did not happen. Due to non-registration of a case, culprits involved in a criminal activity remain unpunished, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2020