Capital's top cop orders audit of pickets

Wants to enhance patrolling, provide bulletproof vests to officers

ISLAMABAD: Days after two officials were killed during a gun attack on a police picket in Chungi 26, the top police officer of the federal capital on Thursday called for an audit of such pickets apart from directing measures to ensure the safety of officers.

Chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday, Islamabad Police Inspector General (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar Khan directed to take elaborate measures to ensure the safety of officers performing duties at pickets established at the entry and exit points of the city.

As part of the enhanced measures, IGP Aamir directed to deploy at least two personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) at each police picket erected at the entry and exit points of the city and those in the Red Zone.

Furthermore, he directed that at least five policemen should be deployed at each picket while they should be equipped with the necessary equipment such as weapons, sufficient ammunition and bulletproof vests.

Moreover, pickets must be audited to make them more effective and to remove unnecessary pickets without compromising on the overall security arrangements in the city.

Two police officials killed in capital picket attack

Officials deployed at pickets were directed to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) while performing their duties. Zonal SPs will be held accountable if any lapse or non-implementation of SOPs was detected, he said.

The IGP further ordered to enhance patrolling in the urban and rural areas of the city and to accelerate efforts against those involved in street crimes, bootlegging, illegal occupation of lands, absconding criminals and proclaimed offenders.

Aamir directed to expedite investigation in various cases to nab criminals.

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Operations-DIG Waqaruddin Syed said that all police officials must brief their staff about security duties and ensure that SOPs are implemented.

The meeting was also attended by Special Branch AIG, Investigations SP, Additional SP and Zonal SPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2020.