Crimes rear ugly head after check posts abolished

Agencies propose enhancing deployment across garrison city

RAWALPINDI:

Street and other crimes have started rearing their ugly heads in Rawalpindi city and Cantonment areas after the decade-old check posts were abolished last week.

The joint check posts were established on the entry and exit routes of Rawalpindi city and cantonment a decade ago in the garrison city to prevent the increasing incidents of terrorism. Pakistan Army, police, civil-military intelligence and traffic police personnel were on duty for 24 hours in three shifts at these check posts.

Along with manpower, sniffer dogs, CCTV cameras, explosive scanners and other devices were also installed at these check posts.

According to sources, criminals have started entering the garrison city from Islamabad and surrounding areas and committing crimes before escaping with impunity as they were under no surveillance.

According to the sources, while expressing their grave concern over the complete abolition of check posts, intelligence agencies have suggested to the Punjab government to re-deploy police personnel at these check posts.

The sources said that with the sudden complete elimination of the joint check posts, criminals find it easy to commit the crime before escaping without being arrested.

According to the sources, with the abolition of the joint check posts, street crime has increased especially in Cantonment areas and even posh upscales were not immune from crimes.

The sources said that the intelligence agencies in their report sent to the Punjab government have suggested deploying more police personnel at locations where the joint check posts were established earlier.

The sources said that criminals easily escape to Islamabad through Peshawar Road, Airport Road, Jhelum Road and Khanna bridge after the joint check posts were abolished.

The joint check posts had been established 10 years back under the National Action Plan when the country was facing the scourge of terrorism and bomb blasts and killings in major cities including the twin cities was a common place.

Earlier, the twin cities police had agreed to boost coordination between the two departments through regular meetings and decided to adopt a joint plan of action in the fight against terrorism and criminal elements.

It had been decided to establish joint checkpoints, conduct joint operations and take combined action against terrorists and criminal groups.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.