Lahore – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered to intensify action against corrupt elements in the police in the province. She has directed the Inspector General of Police Punjab to identify corrupt officials and complete action against them within a week.
While chairing a meeting on law and order, the Chief Minister said that the protection of lives and property of citizens is the primary responsibility of the government. He directed that police officers with a reputation for corruption should not be appointed as Station House Officers (SHOs) in police stations.
This decision has come as an attempt to strengthen accountability at the grassroots level of the police. Police stations are the main place where citizens have direct contact with the police. Therefore, the role and reputation of the officer has been considered important in the appointment of SHO.
The Chief Minister also directed the police to take further steps to prevent incidents of looting and theft. He ordered to start a special operation against crimes in Sheikhupura. At the same time, it was decided to summon police officers of those districts where the crime rate remains high.
The meeting also focused on the modern police system. The Chief Minister set a deadline of September 30 to equip Punjab police personnel with body cameras. Body cameras can help in preserving records of actions taken between the police and citizens. This can also facilitate the investigation of complaints and actions.
The meeting also decided to change the administrative structure of Dolphin Police. Approval was given to place its operational control under the relevant police stations. The aim of this step is to improve coordination between police operations at the local level.
Special attention was also paid to crimes against women and children. The Chief Minister called for a comprehensive plan to effectively combat such crimes and stressed on a zero-tolerance policy against those involved.
Approval was also given to install GPS devices and cameras in jail vans to secure the prisoner transfer system. The Chief Minister directed strict action against those responsible for prisoner escapes.
The meeting was also briefed on the overall crime situation in Punjab. According to the police, a 54 percent reduction in robberies, 35 percent in murders, 46 percent in car snatchings and 53 percent in motorcycle thefts were recorded in the province. A decrease in murders, robberies and vehicle and motorcycle thefts was also reported in Lahore.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that despite the reduction in crime at the provincial level, police officers will be held accountable in districts where the situation is still worrisome. This shows that the government is giving importance to district performance along with overall statistics.
