PHOTO: FILE
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed at his office.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Lahore Rai Babar Saeed, SSP Admin Captain (retd) Malik Liaqat Ali and police officers concerned attended the meeting.
The density of crime, population and vastness of area primarily has been considered while considering demarcations.
The meeting proposed police station Shahdra to divide into two parts by giving Begum Kot Chowki the status of the police station. Shahdara police station not only has one of the highest rates of crime area of the city but has also a vast area as well as a huge population.
Cabinet approves Mushtaq Mehar as new Sindh police chief
The police station hosts three main entry and exit points to the city. It has urban as well as semi-rural localities in it also. A large area of River Ravi, few newly established settlements, railway lines, bus station and other important installations also fall in it.
The other proposition was of setting up of Shadipura police station within existing Baghbanpura police station. The meeting also discussed elevating of the status of Nadarabad chowki to a police station within South Cantonment Police station.
It also asked for creating PS Punjab Society by dividing PS Factory area into two parts.
The meeting after considering the vast area of PS Nishtar Colony decided to create two more police stations within its precincts.
The meeting acknowledged that there was a need for the step because they were facing many complications in dealing with the crime. It was proposed that two new police station namely PS Defence D and PS Sabzi Mandi be set up for better control of crime rate within PS Nishter Colony.
The meeting also proposed the establishment of Chowki Rakh Chandrai within PS Kotlakhpat. Furthermore, it decided to create a division of PS Kahna into PS Haloki and PS Sua Asal.
However, the CCPO rejected the proposal of creating PS Bhekewal within PS Allama Iqbal Town saying existing PS was fully capable in handling crime in the said area.
Division of PS Raiwind into two parts was considered too and it was suggested that Sundar Industrial Estate and Bahria Town be given the status of the police station.
Similarly, PS Sher Shah would be created within the jurisdiction of PS Raiwind. CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed said that proposal for the creation of new police station would be forwarded to IG Punjab for the final decision. He directed that a suitable piece of lands should be identified in advance.
Why do we need more police stations?
Police officers and officials would often complain that needs for improved policing were neglected in the wake of changing times. They would argue that they were living in the 21st century and dealing with “Millennial” but with traditional- 19th, 20th century, and sometimes primitive methods of policing.
Another challenge to be whined by them was of poor and insufficient infrastructure also. The provincial metropolis has witnessed a sharp population explosion in the wake of rapid urbanisation during the last two decades.
The proposal for demarcation of new police stations was a realisation of this push.
A brief history of the number of Lahore police stations
In 1947 there were only nine police stations in Lahore headed by one SP and two DSPs. In 1970, the number of police stations was increased from nine to 12. In 1972, the provincial metropolis was divided into two divisions, City and Cantonment. In 1990, the third division-Sadar was created and the numbers of police stations were raised to 30.
Prosecutor fails to submit charge sheet ‘under political influence’
In 1996, the Model Town Division was added and the number of police stations was rose to 42.
In 2000, Lahore Police witnessed fundamental changes in its administrative affairs as the number of police stations jumped to 76. The number of divisions in the city became nine when Civil Lines, Kot Lakhpat, Mughalpura, Ravi Town and Iqbal Town were added. However, in 2007, the Ravi Town, Mughalpura and Kot Lakhpat divisions were dissolved.
In 2012, investigations and operations wing were separated and 12 SPs were deployed and the number of police stations rose up to 84.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ