Strike no fear into criminals: Rawalpindi police’s CIA effective no more

Department’s functions restricted while several posts remain empty after election transfers

RAWALPINDI: At one point, the report that a criminal case was being probed by the police department’s central investigative agency (CIA — not to be confused with the American intelligence agency with the same acronym) used to strike fear in criminals and even local police precincts alike.

This, however, is no longer true in Rawalpindi with the crime investigation agency seeing its powers — and hence influence — restricted. A recent raft of transfers has left gaping holes in its structures with many seats vacant.

The Rawalpindi police department’s CIA unit used to work as a supra body to regular police precincts and investigators. Not bound by jurisdiction of the police stations, it used to serve the role of a crime sweeper – taking action against criminal activity it saw — and had been missed by the relevant police station — on its own and had the power to initiate prosecution by registering a first information report.

This also doubled as a system of check and balance on the performance of police stations.

However, over the past few years, its powers were gradually curbed. CIA officials were restricted from taking any action without first informing senior police officials and taking officers from the relevant police stations on board. Consequently, CIA’s performance against crime gradually declined.

The CIA branches in other cities such as provincial capital Lahore remains fully operational, but the activities of the Rawalpindi unit have been drastically cut in recent times.

Toothless

Ahead of last month’s general elections, the caretaker government had transferred a host of officials, including in the police.

The CIA unit of Rawalpindi was particularly affected with a number of senior officers transferred. This meant that some of the duties had to be handed to officials who were already caught up in their full-time assignments.

At the moment, the post of superintendent at CIA, who was transferred ahead of the general elections, is vacant. Rawal SP has been given the additional charge for the post.

Similarly, the CIA is being currently managed by two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), Masood Raza and Raja Fayyaz.

However, the department does not have even a single inspector.

The Rawalpindi branch is left with five sub-inspectors, seven ASIs, six head constables, 29 constables and three drivers.

The department does have an active CRO unit, which is developing a comprehensive database of criminal elements, people taking up residences in hotels, hostels and guesthouses. Moreover, data pertaining to rescue services, vehicle verification and stolen vehicles are also being compiled by the unit.

Similarly, the CIA unit of Rawalpindi also has experts who draw sketches and profiles of criminals as described victims and witnesses. These sketch experts also facilitate police stations and also accompany the CIA task force during their raids at the crime scene.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2018.