Crackdown on aerial firing, firecrackers ordered

Officials ordered to design a comprehensive plan for protecting minorities

ISLAMABAD: With multiple terror attacks taking place in different parts of the country recently, the federal capital’s top cop on Monday directed to clamp down on aerial firing and fireworks in the city apart from ordering officials to devise a comprehensive plan to protect minorities.

This was directed by the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police Amir Zulfiqar as he chaired a high-level meeting on Monday. The meeting was attended by DIG Headquarters Sarfraz Ahmed Falki, DIG Operations Waqaruddin Syed, SSP Headquarters Irfan Tariq, SSP Security Muhammad Suleman, AIG Operations Dr Sardar Ghayas Gul, SP Special Branch Zubair Ahmed Sheikh, Additional SPs and all Zonal SPs participated.

The IG directed the DIG Operations to design a comprehensive plan to provide security to minorities, particularly the Christian community in wake of the terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

He also took strict notice of aerial firing and explosion of firecrackers outside wedding halls and marquees in the capital.

The IG further said that police officials in areas where such incidents occurred, would be held responsible for handling such situations in accordance with the law. He also instructed them to obtain a certificate from the marquee owners that no such incident would occur outside their properties.

He directed the officer to take strict action against those who fail to abide by the rules.

He directed the DIG to obtain a daily report from Zonal SPs and instructed to hold khuli kutcheri with them on a daily basis.

Moreover, he also took a detailed briefing from the SP Investigation, SP City, homicide inspector of the case and SHO on the progress of murder of a Chinese national.

He formed a special investigation team under SP investigation and directed them to treat the case a test case. The IG further directed to that action be taken against land grabbers and drug sellers through search and combing operations.

He directed the Zonal SPs to update registers of the police stations under their scope.

He directed the police officials that corruption would not be tolerated and warned that officials involved in any corrupt activity would be dealt with iron hands. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2019.