LAHORE, Dec 27: Punjab IGP Haji Habibur Rehman has reportedly withdrawn Rs1.8 million from the welfare fund for the education of his children, becoming the first-ever police chief of the province taking benefit of the contributing scheme supposedly meant for the deserving officials and heirs of those who die in the line of duty.
And this has been done reportedly after amending rules, allowing PSP officers to take benefit of the scheme with two-year service and contribution in the welfare fund instead of the previous five years.
The in-charge Additional IG (welfare), Sarmad Saeed, confirmed the news but said the amount was Rs1.5 million and it had been withdrawn by the IGP while fulfilling all legal formalities, and furnishing all relevant documents.
IGP Rehman said he was entitled under the rules to receive the grant for his two children studying in medical colleges.
Nearly 175,000 police officials, around 80 per cent of them constables, in Punjab contribute from their monthly salary for the welfare fund. Share from the income of a few police department’s petrol pumps is also added to it.
The entitlement for the grants under the scheme include funeral expenses of the deceased officials, maintenance allowance for their widows and tuition, hostel, and registration fees of the serving officials’ children who obtain a minimum 65 per cent marks.
The maximum payment is Rs1 million which is made for the liver transplant operation and to the heirs of an official who dies in the line of duty (shaheed).
An amount of Rs50,000 is given for the marriage of a serving official’s daughter, and Rs60,000 for the wedding of retired or deceased official’s daughter. Medicine bills which cannot be reimbursed (by the government) are also paid but they do not cross certain limits as well.
The members are also given a full monthly salary upon their retirement.
According to sources, the IGP heads the welfare funds but his powers are used by the additional IG (welfare) who normally presides over meetings which allow grants to those who are considered needy or deserving.
But the meeting which allowed the IGP grant for his children’s education was presided over by him, sources claimed.
They said none of the IGP in the province had ever taken grant from the welfare fund for the education of his children in view of the sanctity of their highest office in the police department, while realising that it was meant only for the deserving, low-paid staff.
Officials in the IGP office said on the condition of anonymity that the fund was given for the education of more than one children of the IGP. The releases were for the current expenditure and there was no past bill.
They admitted that the fund was released normally to the deserving officials but said that under the rules every member was entitled to get it. They could not also explain whether the principle of the grant was on a first come first serve basis and the urgency of the problem or the might is right.
And when the IGP has been given an amount which is higher than the monetary reward for embracing martyrdom, the welfare fund department is complaining about shortage of money.
It is reportedly going to amend rules to curtail entitlements. The 65 per cent marks requirement for the education of police officials’ children is being increased to 75 per cent (science) and 60 per cent (arts and humanities).
It is also being considered to issue grant for the marriages of only two daughters of the police officials instead of the present all.
The amendments to the rules are likely to be introduced in the next high-level meeting of the fund which is attended by a number of top officials.