Public safety: ‘Citizens are not subjects’

Safe City project launched in Multan

MULTAN: The Punjab Safe City project has been formally launched in Multan division, said DIG Sultan Azam Taimoori on Saturday.

Talking to newsmen, the DIG said CCTV cameras would be installed on all major roads and streets of the city to ensure round-the-clock surveillance.

“The government will change thana culture through sensitisation training of policemen,” he said.

He said Dolphin Force squads would patrol sensitive areas, educational institutions and shopping centres.

“Honest, dedicated and impartial officers are encouraged to play their role effectively. There is no room for inefficient, corrupt and dishonest officials in Punjab Police,” he said. “There is little political interference in south Punjab. This should encourage policemen to dispense their duties without fear,” he said. The DIG said dispute resolution committees would be formed. Help lines are being installed at police stations. He said 15 police stations were being upgraded to model stations. “Here, the public would be able to register their complaints through fax, e-mail and telephone. These complaints will be uploaded online and automatically conveyed to the regional police officer, the city police officer, the concerned DPO and SHOs.”

He said the complainants would be informed about progress on their complaints through SMS. He said police performance would be gauged through resolution of cases and arrest of suspects.

The DIG said a number of meetings had been held with the Multan commissioner to resolve traffic problems in the city and to clear illegal parking spaces. He said it was imperative to train commuters in traffic rules.“They should be discouraged from obstructing traffic through awareness drives,” he said. He said the government should review the Police Act 1861.

“This was introduced the British to control the Indian population. Our citizens are not our subjects,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.