Pension of martyred cops’ heirs quadrupled
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced a fourfold increase in the pension of the families of police martyrs and opportunities for their children to study free of charge in elite educational institutions.
During a meeting and lunch with the families on the Police Martyrs Day observed on Thursday, he said the announcements made by him for the welfare of the personnel during his last visit to the police lines 18 years ago had not been implemented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who had succeeded him as the chief minister.
In addition to manifold increase in the pension of martyrs' families and opportunities to study free of cost in elite institutions, the chief minister announced that risk allowance will be paid to the police from the rank of constables to the inspector general.
He said a separate package will be announced for the women police.
A follow-up meeting has been called next week for implementing the announcements made by the chief minister on the Police Martyrs Day. He said the families of the martyrs would also be given a special cash package on Eid.
"I feel the pain of these families and will not allow the reduction of resources for the police," he stressed and concluded that the police should also strive for the prestige of their institution.
Talking to the media, the CM said the pension of martyrs' families would be quadrupled while arranging free education for their children.
He also announced restoration of the police's risk allowance along with the payment of arrears to all officials from the rank of constable to IGP.
Police uniform
The chief minister said the traffic wardens would be issued seven uniforms as giving them just one was unjust. The allowance of the wardens will also be restored.
He also asked the IGP to work on improving the police uniform.
Mushtaq Sukhera was IG Punjab when police uniform colour was changed to Olive Green from Black and Khaki and reportedly Nishat Mills prepared the uniform.
He maintained that the work of traffic police was not merely to impose fine but to improve traffic discipline.
He said 150 posts of patrolling police would be restored across Punjab and new vehicles would be provided to the force. The chief minister said the police hospitals would be improved and free medicines provided from them.
The chief minister said arranging huddles of retired IGPs for police reforms was an eyewash.
Composite police reforms are being done and the people will see the results soon, he asserted.
Speaking on the importance of commemorating the day, the CM said the police martyrs ensured the safety of the people by sacrificing their lives. The responsibility of supporting the families of the martyrs will be fulfilled, he reiterated. Legislation is being made to improve the mechanism of registration of cases and lodging false FIR will be punishable. The FIR record with the monitoring section at the division level will help to check the performance of the police.
Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said early trial would be ensured in rape cases and the plaintiffs would need not go anywhere for justice.
Justice will be ensured in the police stations and the Panchayat system is also being reactivated to resolve issues at the grassroots, he concluded.
Paying tribute to police martyrs, the chief minister also said they in a statement issued to mark the occasion that they had penned a new history of selfless bravery by sacrificing their lives to protect the people. He expressed his government's solidarity with the heirs of police martyrs.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2022.