Capital needs smart policing: Rashid

Police end 72 check posts, as interior minister orders mobile surveillance

ISLAMABAD:

A robust watch and ward system will help improve security situation in the federal capital, Interior Miniser Sheikh Rashid said. “Smart policing will be introduced instead of check posts,” he said inaugurating a drivein cinema at the F-9 Park in Islamabad on Friday.

“I don’t have time to watch movies, but I will definitely watch ‘the big film’ in Islamabad,” he quipped hinting at political events which keep unfolding in the federal capital. Elaborating on his priorities as the interior minister, Rasheed said he is working towards improving security of the federal capital. He said that police will get modern and well-equipped vehicles to improve security. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police have removed at least 72 checkpoints from various areas of the Red Zone in the city following orders from Rashid. These 72 check posts have been replaced by mobile police pickets, as the interior minister ordered activating the Safe City project for keeping eye on the city with security cameras and the quick response force, officials said on Friday.

Subsequently, there was a visible improvement in the flow of traffic in the areas where earlier police used to stop cars for checking. Islamabad IGP Aamir Zulfiqar on the orders of Rashid immediately issued instructions to remove the fixed checkpoints. On the other hand, mobile police checkpoints have started functioning. Mobile police squads will be stationed at strategic points to monitor suspicious people and vehicles, instead of stopping and checking everyone, police officers told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media. The Safe City quick response force has also been mobilised besides mobile squads of precincts on the directives of the interior minister, they said