Faisalabad grapples with surge in crimes

Police cite lack of manpower, increase in population as major factors

FAISALABAD:

Faisalabad city, having a population of over 8.5 million, has seen a significant decrease in crime control with the increasing difference between the number of citizens and cops.

The city has 42 police stations in which 90 posts of inspectors are sanctioned. However, there are 56 inspectors and a shortage of 34 officials, as per official statistics.

There are 228 sub-inspectors as compared to 295 posts, with a shortage of 67 officials. There are 685 ASI serving on the 728 posts, showing a shortage of 43.

Instead of 954 head constables, 887 are posted, while 97 posts are vacant. Instead of 6,398 constables, 6,214 are serving, while 184 posts are vacant.

There are 13 police circles in the city’s five towns. The city and regional police officers along with 13 DSPs, five SPs, SSP operations and SSP investigation look after the affairs of district police.

The government’s promises to overcome the shortage of police stations and personnel in the city in proportion to the population have not yet been fulfilled.

Faisalabad, the third-largest city in the country in terms of population, has a 100-year history.

Settlement in the city began during the British rule and it was renamed as Faisalabad in 1985 after Saudi King Shah Faisal. During the British rule, a historic clock tower was built in 1903, which became the identity of the city.

The historic buildings of the city were built while keeping in view the need for security of the life and property of the citizens.

The oldest police station is in Saddar, which was established in 1898. The significance of the police station can also be proven from the fact that it has the largest precinct among the 42 police stations in Faisalabad.

Its boundaries extend to other small towns including Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot district.

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As many as 12 police stations have areas sharing boundaries with Saddar police station, including Kharriyanwala, Jaranwala Saddar, Satiana, Dijkot, Batala Colony, D Type Colony, Factory Area, Samanabad, Thikriwala, Razaabad, Peoples Colony and Madina Town police stations.

It also borders eight circles, including Kotwali, Khariyanwala, People’s Colony, Factory Area, Jaranwala, Kotwali, Gulberg and Nishatabad.

The total population of the police station area is 26.75 million. The number of approved police personnel for the police station is one inspector, four sub-inspectors, 12 ASIs, 16 head constables and 88 constables.

However, the present police force has an inspector, four sub-inspectors, three ASIs, two head constables and 17 constables, which is not enough to stop crime in proportion to the population.

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As Faisalabad Saddar police station covers mostly rural areas, the crime rate there is higher than other police stations and citizens feel insecure, as per reports.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and the IG Punjab had assured citizens of taking all possible steps for improving the police station culture but no progress can be witnessed in this regard.

Four outposts have been set up within the limits of Saddar police station.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, Septe0mber 13^th, 2020.