New city police chief wants camaraderie with media

Promises to improve internal accountability mechanism

LAHORE:

The fifth Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Lahore Fayyaz Dev in his first appearance “lures” the media persons to serve as “intelligence” sources for the police to control crime and to improve the law and order situation.

“You are the residents of Lahore, but I am new to the city. You keep on receiving information about crime and other wrongdoings in the city. The information may be beneficial for the police. Due to the nature of your job, you keep on receiving information as a matter of routine. Otherwise, police have to spend a lot of resources to get this much information,” Dev said.

Dev was holding an introductory meeting with the journalists at the Qila Gujjar Singh police lines.  

Dev while quoting references from Islamic scriptures said that the post of city police chief was a huge responsibility for him. He has been appointed as the guardian of millions of citizens. That is a great test and responsibility for him. Dev put stress on investing and expanding Anti-Organized Crime Cell (CIA) for his crime fighting strategy.

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“Other police officers and I are always open to the public,” he said. Dev also promised to improve the internal accountability mechanism and complaint redressal system at the level of a police station. 

Before being appointed as the CCPO, Dev was serving as the additional IG of Punjab Investigations. Earlier, he had served for four years as commandant of the Police Training College at Chung and also served as the RPO of Rawalpindi and DG Khan.

This is his first key field posting in the provincial capital.

He has replaced Ghulam Mehmood Dogar. The government reportedly annoyed over failure to stop the TLP march had transferred Dogar, two DIGs and two SSPs among other officers.

Dogar had replaced Umar Shoib Sheikh. Sheikh was transferred on the first day of the New Year by the government reportedly for his alleged blunt and controversial comments and actions. He also drew flak over some of his remarks about the victim in the Gujjarpura Motorway gang rape case and a conflict with former IGP Shoib Dastaghir.

Sheikh had replaced Zulfiqar Hameed. Before Hameed, BA Nasir was serving as the CCPO of Lahore. Nasir had been appointed by the interim government a month before the General Elections of 2018.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2021.