Robbers loot passersby as cops squabble over jurisdiction

Police in federal capital launch two quick reaction forces

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Three unidentified robbers allegedly set up a picket on a major thoroughfare and freely committed grand larceny as they looted pedestrians and passersby undisturbed for half an hour on Wednesday evening after iftari.

The police, meanwhile, is mired in a dispute over which police station’s jurisdiction did the crime take place in.

Officials said that three armed robbers set up a picket on the main road leading to Sector G-13 in the federal capital and robbed passersby.

The police found out when two young victims went to a police station and reported the incident to them.

Police sources said that Ehtisham was robbed of his mobile phone while Rana’s car book was mugged.

A police party from three police stations including Golra, Noon and Shams Colony arrived at the spot after an hour after complaints started pouring in on the police emergency helpline 15. Meanwhile, the police instead of chasing down the suspects kept arguing about whose jurisdiction it was.

Noon Police Station SHO Alamgir Khan told The Express Tribune that the incident took place within the remits of the Shams Colony police station while the SHOs of Golra and Shams Colony, Arshad Ali and Altaf respectively, asserted that the incident took place within the remits of the Noon police station.

When Alamgir was contacted again, he maintained his earlier statement that the incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Shams Colony police station. However, the officer maintained that he respected the seniority of other two SHOs and had started a search for the suspects.

He added that he will find out whose jurisdiction in which the incident took place and that he had contacted the assistant commissioner of his circle on Thursday.

Flag march

A day after a deadly suicide bomb attack on the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore, police officials in Rawalpindi conducted a flag march in a show of strength.

A long convoy of motorbike, car and van mounted police officers drove through the city, particularly the Murree Road.

Similarly, the Chakwal police conducted a flag march in the city as well to maintain the law and order situation and send a strong message to terrorists during the holy month of Ramazan.

The march was led by Chakwal DPO Adel Memon. The march started from the Police Lines and passed through all main routes of the city

Elite force limited

Punjab police have also limited the radius of elite force operations across the province.

A letter with the title “Over Exposure of Elite Police Force” has been sent to all regional police officials across the province by the Punjab Additional Inspector General (IG) Elite Force.

The letter stated that since the elite force was a specialized and trained force but it was still being used in all kinds of raids along with performing their normal duties. It further stated that owing to this, the professional capacity of the force had deteriorated over time while its impression amongst criminal elements was also falling.

The IG Elite police had stated that since Elite force was a striking and organized force, the Inspector General (IG) Punjab wished to use the force in operations and raids where there they were most needed.

The letter stated that the district police should be used for normal duties and routine operations.

Two quick response teams launched

The Islamabad Police have set up two quick response teams have been launched on round the clock basis to respond to light emergency situations.

This was disclosed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar Khan on Thursday as he kicked off an education and enforcement campaign on traffic rules.

While addressing the media after the event, he stated that apart from response teams, they have set up 11 Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) check posts on all the main highways including Expressway, Kashmir Highway and the Margalla.

From today onward, traffic will also be monitored through radar control and safe city cameras, the IGP stated, as he directed police officers to respect the citizens with the same kind of respect on reciprocal bases.

He went on to highlight the salient features of the campaign and maintained that heavy penalties and fines will be imposed on the traffic violators for failing to wear seat belts, helmets by motorcyclists, violation of lane discipline and usage of mobile so and so forth.

In this regard, he explicitly requested the citizens to respect traffic laws. In fact, traffic discipline depicts the development of the nation. He further maintained that a comprehensive strategy will be chalked out to discourage one-wheeling. The

IGP highlighted the achievements of the Islamabad Police, pointing to a 35% reduction in crime thanks to a focused campaign against the land and drug mafia members apart from a change in police culture. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2019.