Special wing to deal with financial crimes on the cards

LAHORE:

The police department has decided to establish a dedicated wing to deal with white collar and financial crimes.

This has been announced by Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) DIG Bilal Siddique Kamyana flanked by DIG Operations Dr Abid Khan and SP Headquarters Malik Awais while sharing his policing priorities and targets during an introductory meeting with crime reporters at District Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh on Friday.

“Our core job is going after hard core criminals- robbers and murderers. A specialised wing will deal with the complaints against financial disputes filed in a bulge as a routine. It consumed a lot of energy as well attention.

Kamyana also vowed to simplify the FIR registration process in cheque bounce (section 489-F) and fraud, dishonesty (section 420,406) cases.

The already laid down SOPs consumed many months. Once the FIR was registered, the investigations process took further time.

Being the process too tedious, he vowed to make it as simple as possible.

Sharing about the background of the case, he added that section 489-F and 406 had been blatantly, excessively misused in the past. This forced courts as well police to mould its procedure.

“Keeping in view a prevalent nuisance value - misuse of such cases in our society, verification under SOPs for nominated suspects is necessary,” Kamyana said.

Police had been facing severe criticism in handling financial crimes cases.

It had been accused of taking “too much interest” in taking these cases as this provided space for easy kickbacks.

Police had also been accused of showing arrest of proclaimed offenders (POs) in such cases in their performance report. Some of the policemen have also been accused of indulging in showing various backdoors for registration of cases under these clauses to complainants for their ‘ulterior motives’.

Kamyana further said “I request you all to launch a mass awareness campaign that if a nominated accused in an FIR is innocent, he should not get a bail but produce him before police. “Police will not arrest any citizen over fake cases registered against him,” Kamyana asserted.

Kamyana said police will ensure submission of challans in 30 days. He also resolved to take steps to fulfil DSP rank officers’ seats vacant at CIA Lahore.

“Media is the eyes and ears of the society. We will make Lahore crime-free with the guidance and support of media,” the CCPO asserted.

He continued that protection of life and property of citizens, free registration of FIRs, timely and on merit investigations were his topmost priorities.

“Lahore police will ensure 100% FIR registration of the complaints registered at front desk and police helpline.”

The best policing is eradication of crime and holding the neck by of the criminal, Kamyana added. It is necessary for promotion of peace and stability in society that the criminal remained behind bar.

“Lahore police has launched a crackdown against protocol culture. They will not let anyone harass public through gun and guard culture at public places,” Kamyana added.

He requested all the sections of society under the notion of community policing take part in eradication of crime along with police.

“My doors are always open for public,” he added.

He said that SPs and DSP will also conduct open katcheries in their respective areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2022.