LAHORE, Dec 2: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday pledged to change the police culture, which he believed had been a hurdle in the dispensation of justice.

Speaking at the District Police Lines before an Iftar hosted by Punjab IGP Malik Asif Hayat, he said the department was a first step for the public to seek justice.

“However, with due apology, I have to say the police have lost its credibility as anybody who approaches the police is harassed one way or the other. “

He said politicians could also be blamed for the promotion of this culture. “Nepotism and misuse of office by the politicians did a lot to put the police on a track leading to its misuse of power. Can we expect a police official not to misuse his power for his personal interests when people in power would use the force for personal gains?”

However, Mr Elahi said there was a strong need to change the system which discouraged gentlemen from visiting police stations.

He quoted a Punjabi proverb which said a litigant would be deprived of his cash by the police, he would lose his property in courts and the jail authorities would even snatch his coffin.

He advised the police to concentrate on their basic responsibility which was to protect the life and property of common man, and to do the maximum to secure their respect.

He said he had an idea about the problems being faced by the police force. Like, he said, policemen had to ask a complainant for money to buy stationary and other material to be used in the case files. And, above all, the workload.

Mr Elahi said he did not expect police to change within given circumstances, resources and pressure. “I have started deliberations with the top police hierarchy and we will soon pay attention to solve your basic problems.”

He promised a package for the police aimed at removing financial constraints for them.

Earlier, the IGP said the Punjab police had launched a campaign to curb crime in the last two years. This year, he said, 12 terrorism incidents took place in the province and of them 10 cases were solved by the police. Sixty terrorists were arrested and 24 policemen were killed in encounters with outlaws.

He said attacks on minorities were a new challenge for the police after Sept 11. However, 15 people involved in attacks on Murree, Taxila and Islamabad churches were arrested.