BATTAGRAM: Battagram got the first-ever woman district police officer here on Friday.

Sonia Shamroz, who earlier served as district police officer, Lower Chitral, was posted to Battagram.

Ms Shamroz, after taking charge of her office, visited the Battagram Police Lines, where a contingent of police gave her salute. Later, she visited the martyred monument and offered prayers.

During her meeting with DSPs, traffic in-charges and SHOs, Ms Shamroz asked them to dispense their duties without any fear and pressure.

She said that she was very clear about accountability within the force, adding officials delivering goods would receive appreciation and the negligent ones would face music.

She said that she would try her best to make the district crime-free, vowing to go after drug peddlers, timber mafia and other law breakers. She claimed that peaceful, drug and crime-free society was the need of the hour.

Meanwhile, the people welcomed the woman police officer’s posting to Battagram, and said she would have to show her mettle in effectively curbing the menace of drug peddling. They said often drug peddlers got bail from courts soon after their arrests due to poor investigation. They said they expected her to rein in the influential timber mafia, and provide protection to small wood traders.

They said the police were also unable to arrest the proclaimed offenders, who had ‘backing’ of political circles.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2022