Police disband Qaumi Razakars after 57 years

PQR was established in 1965 and given legal cover same year

LAHORE:

Citing security reasons, Punjab Police has announced to disband thoroughly Police Qaumi Razakars (PQR) after 57 years of the constitution.

“As per the decision made in the meeting of Police Executive Board held on June 16, 2022, services of PQRs have been discontinued wef July 1, 2022,” an order issued by the Inspector General of Punjab (IGP) Rao Sardar Ali Khan read.

It has been dispatched to The Capital City Police Officer, Lahore, all Regional Police Officers, all City Police Officers and all District Police Officers, in Punjab. “Disbanding is not the only solution. This way Punjab Police is curtailing its resources and funds that already been allocated with a lot of effort.

PQR should be reformed and better utilised in particular for Community Policing,” retired additional Sarmad Saeed Khan while talking to The Express Tribune declared the IGP’s decision not very sane.

The letter titled, “disband of Force Qaumi Razakars wef 01-07-2022” further read, “it is communicated that all District Heads of Police are directed to discontinue hiring and enlistment of PQRs forthwith, owing to security risks, lack of proper training and Professional capability”.

“The untrained, civilian staff cannot be engaged in policing, given the present-day challenges,” the IGP further told in the letter.

The PQR was established in 1965 and a law “The Punjab Qaumi Razakars Ordinance, 1965” was also passed for the legal cover for the force.

Additional IG (retd) Sarmad Saeed said that an inspector in the past could engage special upper subordinates to assist him in the performance of his duties. At present, a DPO can engage special inspectors for the efficient performance of his duties. The essence behind the emergence of PQRs is such need of policing.

Punjab Police officers for the last couple of years had been of the role and presence of PQRs.

PQRs were already been disbanded or were dysfunctional in many districts of Punjab.

In 2019, former City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Younis announced disbanding of PQRs based on the complaints of misuse of authority and corruption.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2022.