PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Parallel policing systems have become a hallmark of the most populous province of the country. In Punjab, most sub-inspectors have been posted as SHOs, while the stubbornness of one of the departmental high-ups in Lahore has forced a senior and elderly police officer to work an SHO. In order to account for the lack of inspectors, the SHO inspector has reportedly lost his life.
According to details, Manga Mandi SHO Inspector Irfan Khan kept requesting a change of his line due to a serious heart condition, but due to lack of inspector-level SHOs, he was ordered to continue at his post. At least 20 inspectors stationed in various police stations of Lahore are reportedly suffering from heart conditions, diabetes, and hepatitis. For these inspectors, performing some of their field duties, especially raids, is extremely difficult. These inspectors have repeatedly requested changes in their assignments, but in order to fulfil the requirement for inspector-level SHOs, the police have been forced to put their requests on hold.
The rules for the Lahore police are different from those for the rest of the province, where in order to fulfil orders of the bureaucracy, the duties of SHOs have to be reluctantly and forcefully performed by older police officials, many of whom have are suffering from various health conditions. In order to fulfil the inspector requirements, the police department has been bringing in officials from other districts and Punjab Constabulary while hardworking Lahore police officials are sidelined.
There have also been cases where inspectors with ‘spotty’ service have also been posted as SHOs while competent younger officials are forced to wait. In the past, there was less disparity between inspectors and sub-inspectors when considered for postings as SHOs and both used to work hard due to the knowledge that there were dozens of qualified potential replacements waiting in the wings.
In the current scenario, however, inspectors know full well that there is no threat to their jobs, causing some to slack off and show negligence their duties.
Most worryingly, in a recent meeting of senior Lahore police officials, sources said one of the points raised was that some SHOs do not even know which Pakistan Penal Code section applies to kidnapping cases.
In another instance, an SHO accidentally shot a bullet from his pistol at his office. The area DSP, who was present at the police station, reportedly had a close call.
There are numerous other examples of red flags over the competence of the current crop of SHOs. Police sources said high ups should seriously think about imposing the same rules across the province – either appoint inspectors as SHOs across the province or open up positions for qualified SIs.
According to a Lahore police spokesperson, there have been no directives issued to appoint sub-inspector in districts from the Punjab IG because the districts are already short of police manpower. He said DPOs are of SSP rank and have the authority to punish sub-inspectors, while in Lahore, an additional IG is appointed as CCPO and has the authority to punish the inspector.
He admitted that about half of Lahore’s SHOs have applied for transfers to police lines because they are nearing retirement and their health doesn’t allow them to be on patrolling duty.
Meanwhile, multiple inspectors in Lahore, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they want the police to introduce a golden-handshake policy so that they may take an early retirement because in this age they cannot manage this much work.
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