70,000 policemen to perform Ramazan duty across Punjab

Special squads to implement lockdown restrictions

LAHORE: During the holy month of Ramazan, more than 70,000 police officials and volunteers will perform security duties across the province, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir.

The IG Punjab expressed these views while chairing a video link conference regarding Ramazan security and prohibition of the coronavirus. In the conference, all RPOs, CPOs and DPOs participated through video link.

He maintained that all available resources and modern technology along with deployment of the police force and volunteers should be fully utilized for security of mosques and Imam Bargahs in all districts of the province. “Moreover, implementation of instructions issued by the government concerning prayers in the mosques must be ensured,” he said.

He highlighted that special squads should be constituted to implement restrictions imposed by the government during the lockdown.

“DPOs under their supervision should ensure timely measures to control crime rate during Ramazan,” said the IGP. He added that the officials who misbehaved with the citizens or were involved in corruption under the cover of corona duty and crime control should be ready for strict departmental action.

He further said additional officials should be deployed during Fajar and Taraweeh prayers in sensitive places whereas search, sweep combing and intelligence based operations should be conducted in the vicinity of mosques and Imam Bargahs across the province on a daily basis and its reports should be regularly sent to Central Police Office.

He maintained that in the wake of dangers of the global pandemic, restrictions on congregations of every kind including Iftar and Sehri should be strictly ensured and legal action should be taken against the violators irrespective of their designation and social status. “Special squads should be formed to implement restrictions issued by the government during the lockdown and speedy actions should be taken against those guilty of hoarding,” said Dastagir.

He further said that officials who would be found guilty of misbehaving with citizens and doing corruption under the cover of coronavirus duty and crime control do not deserve any leniency and such officials must be ready for strict departmental action.

He further said that special attention should be given to religious places of minorities, especially Ahmadi worship places. He added that to control crime during Ramazan, timely steps should be taken by the DPOs.

He said that during the lockdown, duty management should be improved on police pickets and the deployment of officials on one point should not be more than the required officials and diligent duty should be taken from every official.

“During Ramazan, there should be no delay in the provision of timely meal to every official on duty point,” said the IGP. Additional IG Operations Inam Ghani while briefing the IG Punjab said that during Ramazan, police officers, officials and volunteers will perform security and coronavirus prevention duties, while metal detectors, walk-through gates and CCTV Cameras along with the force and drone cameras would be fully utilised for the security of sensitive worship places.

The IGP said that RPOs and DPOs should themselves move into the field and inspect the security arrangements during Ramazan and also brief effectively the officials about the sensitivity of their duty so that they may perform their duties diligently. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2020.