Held accountable: IG warns officers against illegal raids

KARACHI: Sindh inspector general (IG) Allah Dino Khawaja warned police officials of dire consequences if any officer is found involved in conducting a raid in plainclothes or in vehicles without a number-plate, while admitting the illegal activities of the police on Monday.

In certain cases, the police vehicles are without number plates and private vehicles are being used for operations. As a result, illegal raids committed by police go unchecked and there is serious unrest among law-abiding citizens, stated a copy of a communiqué issued by the Sindh IG.

It is the primary responsibility of supervisory officers in the rank of SP and SSP to ensure that proper standard operating procedures are followed while carrying out raids, according to the communiqué. It further stated that local police stations must be duly notified of such police activity or arrest without fail.

Strict compliance should be ensured by all units and if any violation is noticed, the supervisory officer will be personally held responsible, without exception that may include the registration of a criminal case, warned Khawaja.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.