Security duties take toll on police

One cop assigned to each team conducting census

LAHORE:

The security duties are taking a toll on Punjab Police as every third cop of the province would remain engaged in security duties for the next 40 days.

Lahore CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana said that at least 4,000 policemen had been deployed to provide security to digital census teams.

Lahore Police have ensured thorough cooperation with the district administration and other relevant departments.

At least one policeman has been assigned to a team. He has directed the supervisory officers to remain vigilant.

Lahore Police are already engaged in provision of security duties for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches being played at the Qaddhafi Stadium.

The teams and matches were being provided with state level security. As many as 8,000 policemen have been deployed for the security purposes. This made a total of 12,000 policemen.

The anti-polio campaigns are also scheduled to begin. The cops will also be engaged for the purpose.

An official said that throughout the province, over 70,000 cops would remain on security duties for the next 40 days. At least 50,000 will be deployed for digital census and 16,000 for polio teams.

He added that in coming weeks, the security duties due to the religious gatherings and political activity would also be raised.

During the day, security of the city, including mosques, Imam Barghas, shrines, markets and sensitive installations remained highly tightened on Jumatul Mubarak.

Lahore CCPO Bilal Siddique Kamyana had issued directions to the senior police officers including all the divisional SSPs and SDPOs to ensure foolproof security arrangements in wake of the present situation. Senior police officers personally visited different areas of the city to check the security arrangements. All the SSPs, SDPOs and related officers reviewed and ensured stringent security arrangements throughout the city.

Police checked all the vehicles, particularly suspicious persons, at the entry and exit points of the city.

It was reported on these pages last month that more than 1,000 Punjab Police officials were providing protocol to politicians and representatives associated with the former CM Elahi led provincial government. Along with allowances to police officers providing protocol, the government also spent a significant chunk of public money on providing police vehicles and fuel.

The Express Tribune also learnt that after the attack on former prime minister Imran Khan, the Punjab government sent out more than 600 officers of the Lahore Police to guard him. Commenting on the matter, former inspector general (IG) Punjab, Khawaja Khalid Farooq, was of the view that politicians and VIPs using law and order as an excuse to misuse the provincial force was not new.

“All VIPs and politicians demand the services of the police for protection and the financial burden falls on the provincial government,” informed Farooq, adding that in his experience he had seen that politicians often declare two to three camp offices and then ask for police protection.

The Express Tribune also asked retired additional IG Punjab, Pervez Rathore, about the misuse of police by VIPs. “Police protection is only provided to politicians and VIPs as per the rules. As for private individuals who request protection services, the government charges them for providing security,” explained Rathore, adding that private individuals have to pay the salary, along with food and other expenses of the police officers providing them security.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2023.