After weeks of protest duties, policemen finally get a chance to share laughs

Operations division lifts cricket trophy after enthralling win over logistics wing

ISLAMABAD: After weeks of tension and a tight duty schedule with protest rallies in the capital, policemen got a chance to relax and enjoy themselves at a cricket tournament over the weekend.

The Operations Division — which was heavily involved in providing security during the three-week-long standoff at Faizabad — lifted the trophy at the end of the three-day T20 tournament on Sunday.



The Operations Division managed to chase down the 179 run target set by Islamabad Police’s Logistics wing.

While some thought that the target may be too high for the Operations Division, and they did cut the match pretty close, in the end they achieved the target with a ball to spare.

The Traffic and Security wings of the capital’s finest also competed in the tournament. However, they failed to make it to the final.

Policemen in large numbers turned up for the games which were held at the Bhutto and Margharzar cricket grounds to cheer their respective teams.

Officials said what they loved the most about the games was that they all played alongside their officers and no one caring for ranks or cadre.

Such was the atmosphere that even SSP-Operations Sajid Kiani took to the pitch much to the joy of his teammates. Batting in the final could only add two runs.

SP-Saddar Aamir Niazi had earlier opened the batting for the Operations Division.



DIG Waqar Chohan, who later gave away prizes after the match, said the tournament was an opportunity for policemen to release tension and relax after tough few weeks.

“It is vital for the personnel to have such opportunities, alongside their policing duties, to release tension,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2017.