RAWALPINDI, July 17: The Punjab government has sought Interpol’s help in bringing back those criminals who escaped from the country after committing heinous crimes, including terrorism, an official source said.

In this regard, the inspector general of police Punjab, Ziaul Hassan, has been directed by the provincial authorities to ensure preparation of lists of such hardened criminals wanted by the law-enforcement agencies.

In line with the provincial government’s directives, the IGP held a meeting on law and order and informed all the deputy inspectors general (DIGs), district police officers and high- ranking officers of investigation wing to prepare the lists.

The lists would be provided to the Interpol for bringing the wanted persons back to Pakistan. The IGP also reviewed performance of investigation wing. He issued directions to provide two mobile forensic lab vehicles to five big cities, including Rawalpindi, so that evidences could be picked and preserved from the crime scene. The evidences preserved from the scene of crime prove much helpful to the investigating officers in tracking down the culprits.

The meeting also decided to form well-equipped “special police squads” to control street-crimes which had shaken the citizens.

The special motorbike squads consisting of highly trained police officials would be deployed in big cities of the province, including Rawalpindi.

There would be special uniform for the squads equipped with latest weapons, bullet proof jackets and helmets. The basic responsibility of these squads would be to check street crime so that the image of the police could be improved and the citizens felt safe.

The meeting was informed that a double-shift system had been introduced in the five big cities of the province for which 9,000 constables were recruited.

The IGP told the meeting that launching of general hold-ups would be taken seriously. He directed the senior police officers to strictly check those police personnel who were found harassing the innocent people on pickets.

He also directed the DPOs to prepare a list of those police officials who fulfilled the criteria for the position of SHOs with mutual consultation of regional police officers so that positive change in police station culture could be brought.

The IGP warned that the SHOs involved in delaying registration of cases on public complaints and misbehaving with the people would be suspended immediately.