Senior police officers slam door on IGP’s policy

Police chief’s open door instructions blatantly ignored

LAHORE: Senior police officers have brushed the open door policy of Inspector General Arif Nawaz under the carpet. Many officials have allegedly been violating and ignoring the instructions of the Punjab government and police.

A senior police officer shared with The Express Tribune that Nawaz was extremely perturbed over the people-repulsive attitude of field officers, including DPOs, RPOs and CCPO. Besides avoiding the public, the serious behavioral issues of officers with the  people was also pointed out by the IGP. The matter was also taken up during a regional police officers’ (RPOs) conference.

The issue was put forward as an agenda item that Nawaz strictly stressed upon. “Instead of sharing the burden of IGP, the field commanders are adding to it,” he was quoted as saying.

The reason for the IGP’s dismay was the manifold increase in the number of cases being received by the complaints cell and open court of the Central Police Office Punjab.

In the meeting minutes, the IGP ordered officers, who shied away from interaction with the people, to mend their ways. This was not the first time that Arif Nawaz Khan faced this issue from field officers. In July, this year, he complained of the same matter. In an official notification, issued to the Lahore CCPO, regional police officers (RPO), city police officers (CPO) and district police officers (DPO), he said that doors should remain open for citizens so that people do not face problems of undue waiting. “Their issues should be addressed on a priority basis.”

He expressed displeasure over reports of people being made to wait unduly in the presence of an officer in the police station. He further had said that it was the responsibility of the police to protect the lives, properties and respect of the people. “Therefore, all officers are directed to keep their doors open, listen to citizens and solve the people’s problems.

“It is very important to resolve people’s grievances through an open door policy.” He ordered that all officers should follow the new instructions and direct their subordinates to follow them. The IGP emphasised on officers to dedicate time for citizens and also advertise the details for hearing public complaints.

In the detailed notification, he ordered officers and officials to call internal departmental and other official meetings well before the arrival of the general public or after they have been heard.

In continuation of the policy, station house officers (SHOs) had been directed to sit in police stations for at least two hours on a daily basis to hear the complaints. However, SHOs blatantly violating orders and Nawaz had CCTV cameras installed in their rooms to keep a check. These CCTV cameras monitored from IG the office, among other. However, the internal accountability of the department revealed that the violations still persisted.

It has been over a decade that Punjab Police had introduced open door policy that meant that the public should have an access to police officers for redressals of complaints without any reference (chit). However, this was internalised by senior officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2019.