Scores of cops punished for misconduct

Punishments stem from abuse of authority, neglect of duties and criminal cases

RAWALPINDI:

Around 326 police officers and officials were given major punishments and 1,060 minor punishments during the Rawalpindi Police's self-accountability process in 2024.

The punishments were awarded for abuse of authority, neglect of duties, involvement in undesirable activities and violation of discipline and departmental rules and regulations. At the same time, other police officers and officials were also encouraged for showing exemplary performance.

According to police sources, major punishments included terms such as dismissal, demotion, reduction in salary and compulsory retirement, as well as minor punishments like withdrawal from service, reduction in pay scale, withholding of annual increments and promotions and call for accountability. Punishments were awarded to more than 1,300 officers and personnel due to various complaints and reports of negligence in their daily duties. Among other things, they were found guilty of mismanagement, abuse of power, poor performance, facing criminal cases, human rights violations and other charges.

City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani, SSP Operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar and three Divisional SPs including SP Investigation, SP Headquarters and SP Security, and the CIA, collectively awarded 326 officers and personnel with major punishments. These included four inspectors, 85 sub-inspectors, 183 ASIs, 32 head constables and 22 constables. Additionally, a total of 1,386 policemen were given both major and minor punishments. These included 19 inspectors, 288 sub-inspectors, 492 ASIs, 202 head constables and 59 constables.

However, the police officers and officials who showed outstanding performance were also awarded with cash prizes and certificates.

In this regard, CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani presented a letter of appreciation to Cantt SDPO Mirza Javed Iqbal and certificates of appreciation to Cantt SHO Luqman Javed and Sub-Inspector Umar Siddique for their excellent performance in car theft cases during a special ceremony yesterday. Investigating officers and supervising officers who showed outstanding performance in important cases were also encouraged with rewards.?

On the other hand, the special anti-bribery court of the Rawalpindi division pronounced judgments in 117 cases filed against government officials, policemen, patwaris, Gardavars and other public servants accused of corruption worth millions of rupees in the year 2024.

Of these 117 cases, the named accused in only one case were sentenced to seven years each in prison and all of the others accused in the remaining 116 cases of corruption, fraud and land grabbing were acquitted. Only the accused, Aurangzeb, was given a sentence in a fraud case in June 2024.

In the first month of 2024, the court pronounced verdicts in 14 cases in January, 4 in February, 12 in March, 8 cases in April, 10 in May, 11 in June, 10 in July, 9 in August, 10 in September, 8 in October, 8 in November and 13 in December, which was the highest number of cases in a month.