Protecting women, children top priority:Punjab IGP

He says liable officers should prepare themselves for departmental action

LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan stated that it is the force’s top priority to protect women and children. He also urged officials to strictly punish those responsible for sexually abusing and killing women and children.

He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of officers on Tuesday.

Khan maintained that all RPOs and DPOs, along with field officers, should take prompt measures in order to recover kidnapped women and children in their relevant districts and regions. “Any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated and liable officers should prepare themselves for departmental action,” he said.

He directed DPOs to investigate cases of kidnapping and abuse involving women and children under their supervision. He urged firm steps to ensure information sharing and other mutual cooperation between the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) and other concerned institutions. He maintained that action should be taken against suspects involved in killing children in Chunian and Kasur. “All modern tactics should be adopted to arrest such criminals,” he said.

He directed the additional IG investigations to maintain close coordination with the JIT which was formed to probe the Chunian case. Additional IG Operations Inaam Ghani said a vast majority of missing children leave their homes over domestic issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2019.