Inspector-General of Police, Captain (Retd) Arif Nawaz Khan, has ordered the field officers to remove all check posts, with the exception of the inter-provincial and inter-district check posts across Punjab, alongside ensuring that the new SOPs regarding the checking of citizens and their vehicles is strictly implemented.
Punjab police has been ordered to avoid the convention of manning check posts. The country’s largest police department will now be deploying the use of technology for monitoring and checking suspects.
New Security Arrangements
IG Punjab issued these directives during a video conference held at the Central Police Office (CPO) on Tuesday. During the video conference, the performance of the police teams was reviewed, alongside examining crime graph, and the overall law and order situation.
Punjab Police Wants to Drastically Reduce Check Posts in the Province https://t.co/HgWoLWoGL1
— ProPakistani (@ProPakistaniPK) October 17, 2019
The IGP said that instead of monitoring the security situation through check posts and police barriers, the field officers must ensure monitoring through active patrolling and CCTV cameras. He said that police officials should avoid standing at the police check post barriers, and instead, should take part in operational activities.
He further directed that at the instance of any misbehavior at the inter-provincial or inter-district check posts, the relevant district police officer (DSP) will be held responsible, and a strict course of action would be adopted against him.
Read more: Fawad Chaudhry wants to replace Police Check Posts with the latest technology
The IGP further stated that citizens can use the 8787 IGP Complaint center to lodge a complaint regarding the presence of any police barrier or check post in Punjab. Strict action would be taken against the police officials responsible for the negligence.
Outlining the need to intensify the security details for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the IGP directed that a four-tier security system must be provided for all processions and majalis. During the video conference, the IGP was briefed by all regional police officers (RPOs) regarding the crime statistics and the overall performance of the police officials across various regions.
IGP directs to remove check posts in Punjab https://t.co/90qYGP4nT5
— UrduPoint English News (@UrduPointEng) October 16, 2019
IG Punjab ordered all DPOs to personally conduct all investigations and arrive at the scenes in the instances of cases of rape and violence against women and children. He further ordered all DPOs to provide their CPO with weekly progress reports of all cases related to women and children.
He also stressed upon the need to deploy all available police resources to intensify the security arrangements for the Urs of Hazrat Usmani Ali Hajveri (RA), adding that the administration of the shrine must be consulted in devising a comprehensive security plan.
Read more: Police Reforms: Issues, Effects and a Way Forward
Earlier this month, Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, invited people to come up with innovative and unique solutions to replace police checkpoints and digitalized platforms. He even announced a cash price of Rs. 2 million for the winning idea.
Taking to Twitter, Fawad Chaudhry said, “How can we get rid of Police Nakas (search points) come up with technology solutions, we’ll award 2 Million to the winning idea…. you have three weeks get-set-go.”
Hi there! How can we get rid of Police Nakas (search points) come up with technology solutions, we ll award 2 Million to the winning idea…. you have three weeks get-set-go
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 11, 2019
The deadline of the challenge is now 2 weeks away, and it provides Pakistan’s tech geniuses and software engineers an opportunity to make their mark by innovating the system of manual checkpoints, which are quite troublesome for the citizens as they have to wait for their turns in long queues, which also disrupts transportation schedules.