Police to undergo restructuring after Kasur incidents

SHOs and in-charge investigations will be replaced during restructuring

LAHORE: A final decision has been taken with regards to the restructure of the police force in Kasur after multiple incidents of child abuse and murder.

Station house officers (SHO) and in-charge investigations posted at the Kasur police station will be replaced during the restructuring. A notification in this regard has already been issued by Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan.

According to details obtained by The Express Tribune, 87 training sub-inspectors will be deployed in different districts of the province including Lahore, Sahiwal and others. The list of these officers has been sent to Kasur police. These officers will be recruited to the Punjab police through the Punjab Public Service Commission and will be posted as SHOs and in-charge investigations at police stations of Kasur. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Establishment Rafat Mukhtar has issued an order to this effect.

The IGP said that efforts are being made to improve the police department. “Protecting the lives of citizens is our top priority. The arrest of the perpetrator of the Kasur case is an important achievement of the police.”

In order to reduce the number of child abuse cases, the police and parents need to play an important role, he added. “Usually close relatives or neighbours are involved in rape or abuse cases.”

Speaking to the media, Kasur District Police Officer Zahid Nawaz Marwat said that according to the IGP’s directions, restructuring of the police force is underway in Kasur district. “The initiative to protect the lives of citizens and the welfare of the police force are the top priority of the department.”

To change the old culture of police stations is our motive, he added. “Several steps have been taken which are bringing positive results to the city.”

In order to control crime in the city, the police is on alert throughout the day, he maintained. “However citizens also have to play their due role in the identification of criminals and the prevention of crimes.”

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