Special team formed to supervise Safe City project

Displeased over poor performance, IGP orders action against five former rural zone officers

ISLAMABAD: With the federal police department claiming it was not in control of the Safe City project, the federal government has decided to form a special team to supervise the project and keep a keener eye on the city.

Over 1,500 cameras installed under the Safe City project in 2016, is apparently operating under the supervision of the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA). Some police officers have complained that the project should be given under the control of the police to improve policing in the city.



The project has cameras trained on some 150 police check posts throughout the district and monitors them around the clock while police and personnel from Rangers continuously patrol or man these check posts.

Moreover, officials from the Equal Squad and Rescue 15 officers also keep patrolling.

Rising crime

Islamabad Police Inspector General Aamir Zulfiqar Khan has taken notice of rising crime in the rural areas of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

According to a statement issued by the police spokesperson on Thursday, a high-level meeting was chaired by Islamabad Police IG on the rural zone of the capital to review the state of crime in these areas.

During the meeting, it was disclosed that there was an increase in criminal incidents in the rural areas in 2018 when compared to 2017, including the activity of drug peddlers and land grabbers.

The IGP took serious notice of the increase in criminal activity in the rural zone during the tenure of previous SHOs and SDPOS and directed to initiate immediate departmental action against the delinquent police officers who had failed to perform their duties diligently.

In this regard, former Khanna police station SHO Malik Liaquat Ali and former Koral police station SHO Qasim Niazi were suspended and an inquiry was directed against them.

Inquiries were also ordered against former SDPOs Ashraf Shah and Sardar Ghulam Mustafa and former Rural SP Liaquat Hayat Niazi.

The IGP also directed Operations SSP Waqarud Din Syed to enhance patrolling and visibility of the police force in the entire city.

In this regard, he directed to chalk out a comprehensive plan on processing warrants, summons and to improve the quality of investigations.



The IGP issued explicit directions not to leave any stone unturned in the eradication of drugs, liquor and to launch an exclusive crackdown against gambling dens.

Aamir reiterated the resolve of the ICT Police to go all out against land grabbers without any fear or favour. The IGP directed Operations SSP to start visiting police stations for formal and informal inspections.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2018.