Rank upgrade: Afridi promises to provide capital police with modern equipment

Urges officers to be polite to citizens and respect them

ISLAMABAD: A day after the prime minister enhanced the martyrs' package for officers of the Islamabad Police, the state interior minister promised to provide them with all possible resources and modern equipment to make it an exemplary force.

This was stated by Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi on Friday while addressing a rank-wearing ceremony at the Islamabad Police Lines where 183 police personnel were promoted.

"Today is a big day for you [police personnel being promoted] and your families but do not forget a promotion means more responsibilities," the state minister said.

"You will be given peace of mind through promotions and other facilities. I understand that unless your issues are not resolved you will not be able to perform up to the mark," Afridi said.

"The government will give you the due respect and address your genuine issues. In this way we can make you a model police," the minister said in a vague nod to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s claim of ridding the police of political influence and interference.

He went on to urge police officials to modify their behaviour towards the public and treat them better.

"Believe in the policy of giving respect to get respect and be polite with citizens," he said. "Try to remove the apprehension which is prevailing amongst the people and respect every citizen, especially the women and the elderly."

He lauded the security forces of the country for rendering matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism and also paid homage to martyrs. He further said that Pakistan is a peace loving, sovereign nation which will never accept any dictation keeping in view our national interests and that in a new Pakistan, decisions will be taken keeping in mind the benefits to Pakistan.

The junior interior minister went on to say that the government believes in practical steps and would provide maximum facilities to make the Islamabad Police an exemplary force. In this regard, the government, he said, would provide all possible resources and modern equipment apart from training them scientific lines to maintain law and order.

Islamabad Police Inspector General Amir Zulfiqar congratulated the officers getting a promotion and said that the job the police do is very hard. He added that those who were being promoted had spent nearly 20 to 30 years in service.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2018.