Stepping it up: Punjab counter-terrorism department revamped

Joint teams of CTD and Elite Force constituted to combat terrorism.

LAHORE:

In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of its counter-terrorism efforts, the Punjab government has decided to revamp the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

In first phase of this revamp policy, four police stations of the CTD have been established, responsible for launching operations against high-value targets. Joint teams comprising personnel of the CTD and the Punjab Elite Force have also been constituted at the district level, The Express Tribune has learnt.

These CTD police stations have been established in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi, and their notifications have been issued to the authorities, sources in the CTD disclosed

The jurisdiction of CTD’s Lahore Police Station consists of Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujranwala police regions , the jurisdiction of the Faisalabad Police Station comprises Faisalabad and Sahiwal police regions, the area of CTD’s Multan Police Station consists of Multan , Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan police regions while the area of CTD Rawalpindi Police Station consists of Rawalpindi and Sargodha police regions.

According to sources in the CTD, new cases of terrorism will be registered in these police stations with their investigation a responsibility of the investigation and legal wing of the CTD.

In the second phase, other terrorism cases already registered or pending in local police stations will also be transferred to the concerned CTD police station.

Sources added that the CTD police station’s staffs, vehicles, weapons and other resources have also been enhanced according to the requirements.

To combat terrorism and launch operations against high-value targets, the teams of the CTD and Elite Force have been established at the district level who will launch any large-scale operation jointly. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued with the approval of the Punjab Chief Minister in this regard.

According to the SOP, two Squads of Elite Forces would be established at each district that will be on high alert round the clock to launch any operation in collaboration with the CTD. The team of the Elite Force would consist of 10 personnel at every district with one inspector, two head constables and five constables with one head constable and one constable to be held for reserve purposes.

The team of the Elite Force will be changed after two months while the composition of Elite Force and CTD would also be changed after every two months to increase efficiency.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2011.