Cops welcome govt move to increase compensation amount
Cops who die in the line of duty to get Rs 5 million
Cops who die in the line of duty to get Rs 5 million. PHOTO: Reuters/FILE
KARACHI:
In a welcome move, the Sindh government has decided to increase compensation for the families of policemen who give their lives in the line of duty from Rs2 million to Rs5 million.
Apart from monetary compensation, the government will also offer a job to a family member of the deceased policeman, based on their qualification. According to the notification issued by the finance department on Wednesday, the family of any policeman, regardless of grade, will be eligible for the compensation if they lose their lives in encounters, bomb blasts, riots, watch duties or terrorist activities. The only exception is road accidents and the revised rates are in effect from June 1.
The compensation for permanent incapacitation is Rs500, 000 and for temporary incapacitation is between Rs50,000 and Rs200,000, depending upon the gravity of the injury. The modalities for the allotment of plot to the families of deceased police officers will be notified separately either by the Police Welfare Fund or the Sindh Board of Revenue.
Martyred Policemen: IG wants quick compensation payments
Senior police officials appreciated move but insisted on more action. “I would appreciate [the move] because it is a good decision,” said Zone East police chief DIG Kamran Afzal. “You cannot expect [good service] from the jawan until you give a proper package to him or his family. These steps keep the jawans’ morale high.” The last time the compensation issue was raised was during the tenure of Sindh IG Iqbal Mehmood, who pledged Rs10 million as compensation and allotment of plots. However, there was no progress on his demands until the budget was announced on June 11 and it reflected the pledged amount.
Bitter-sweet reactions
The policemen who risk their lives to keep the city safe shared, however, bitter-sweet feelings about the revised compensations. Most of them appreciated the move but were also unhappy that they lost so many comrades. Since 2010, nearly 1,000 policemen have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in Karachi alone, most of these were low-ranking policemen.
Most of these killings took place in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Since the start of the Karachi operation, the number of killings of cops in the years 2015 and 2016 is under 100.
“This is very good. At least someone is thinking about us,” said a 45-year-old constable, Muhammad Nasir, who has four children and does not own a house. “I always feared what my family will do after me but now I am quite satisfied.”
Other policemen felt the government needs to improve security for law enforcers. “A majority of the cops are killed not because of their own faults but due to insufficient security arrangements for themselves,” said sub-inspector Muhammad Sarwar. “The government and police department are equally responsible for their killings as they do nothing for policemen’s security.”
Another inspector, who did not wish to be named, agreed the government needs to take more precautionary measures. “Instead of giving compensation to martyrs’ families, the government should take steps to save cops’ lives by providing proper security apparatus and reforming the police department,” he said. He suggested the government focus on enhancing the police strength, gadgets, investigations and intelligence networks to avoid attacks on law enforcers. Speaking to The Express Tribune, DIG Afzal said that there is also a need for proper training in weapons handling and overall training. “There is a need for refresher courses. They [cops] should be updated about Karachi and its dynamics,” he explained. “We have good enough weapons as compared to the terrorists but there is a need to strengthen our weapons’ handling.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2016.
In a welcome move, the Sindh government has decided to increase compensation for the families of policemen who give their lives in the line of duty from Rs2 million to Rs5 million.
Apart from monetary compensation, the government will also offer a job to a family member of the deceased policeman, based on their qualification. According to the notification issued by the finance department on Wednesday, the family of any policeman, regardless of grade, will be eligible for the compensation if they lose their lives in encounters, bomb blasts, riots, watch duties or terrorist activities. The only exception is road accidents and the revised rates are in effect from June 1.
The compensation for permanent incapacitation is Rs500, 000 and for temporary incapacitation is between Rs50,000 and Rs200,000, depending upon the gravity of the injury. The modalities for the allotment of plot to the families of deceased police officers will be notified separately either by the Police Welfare Fund or the Sindh Board of Revenue.
Martyred Policemen: IG wants quick compensation payments
Senior police officials appreciated move but insisted on more action. “I would appreciate [the move] because it is a good decision,” said Zone East police chief DIG Kamran Afzal. “You cannot expect [good service] from the jawan until you give a proper package to him or his family. These steps keep the jawans’ morale high.” The last time the compensation issue was raised was during the tenure of Sindh IG Iqbal Mehmood, who pledged Rs10 million as compensation and allotment of plots. However, there was no progress on his demands until the budget was announced on June 11 and it reflected the pledged amount.
Bitter-sweet reactions
The policemen who risk their lives to keep the city safe shared, however, bitter-sweet feelings about the revised compensations. Most of them appreciated the move but were also unhappy that they lost so many comrades. Since 2010, nearly 1,000 policemen have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in Karachi alone, most of these were low-ranking policemen.
Most of these killings took place in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Since the start of the Karachi operation, the number of killings of cops in the years 2015 and 2016 is under 100.
“This is very good. At least someone is thinking about us,” said a 45-year-old constable, Muhammad Nasir, who has four children and does not own a house. “I always feared what my family will do after me but now I am quite satisfied.”
Other policemen felt the government needs to improve security for law enforcers. “A majority of the cops are killed not because of their own faults but due to insufficient security arrangements for themselves,” said sub-inspector Muhammad Sarwar. “The government and police department are equally responsible for their killings as they do nothing for policemen’s security.”
Another inspector, who did not wish to be named, agreed the government needs to take more precautionary measures. “Instead of giving compensation to martyrs’ families, the government should take steps to save cops’ lives by providing proper security apparatus and reforming the police department,” he said. He suggested the government focus on enhancing the police strength, gadgets, investigations and intelligence networks to avoid attacks on law enforcers. Speaking to The Express Tribune, DIG Afzal said that there is also a need for proper training in weapons handling and overall training. “There is a need for refresher courses. They [cops] should be updated about Karachi and its dynamics,” he explained. “We have good enough weapons as compared to the terrorists but there is a need to strengthen our weapons’ handling.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2016.