Punjab Police: Rs12.5 million released for cars, houses for Turkish police experts

Foreign experts to train police, draw up counter-terror and security strategies.

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has released Rs12.5 million to buy vehicles and rent houses for three Turkish police officers who are to train policemen here under an agreement to be signed by the governments of Pakistan and Turkey next week, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Turkish officers Dr Mustafa Lozguler, deputy chief of the Ankara police training institute, Dr Mehmat Unal, head of investigation of organised crime, and Dr Serhat Demir, police chief of Hilvon city   arrived in Lahore with their families last Tuesday.

They are to remain in the Punjab for three years. The Punjab government will not pay any per-diem to them, an official said.

The Punjab chief minister is scheduled to visit Turkey next week to sign a protocol of cooperation with the Turkish government on counter-terrorism and security. Under the agreement, Turkish police would train master trainers for Punjab Police and transfer technology to aid in investigation and counter-terrorism. They would advise the Punjab Police on all operational issues.



The Punjab government hopes that the Turkish officers will assist particularly with strengthening the Counter Terrorism Department, a 1,200-strong force headed by an additional inspector general of police. The provincial government is to induct 5,000 more in the CTD, from constable to sub-inspector, to deal with the threat of terrorism.

The Turkish officers are currently studying the work procedures of the Punjab Police, from the filing of complaints to investigation methods, in order to diagnose the areas which require strengthening the most.

During their stay, they will visit all police formations in the province.

At the Home Department’s request, the chief minister has approved a summary to relax his austerity policy in order to allow the purchase of four vehicles and renting of three bungalows in Bahria Town. The Finance Department has released Rs7.5 million as a supplementary grant for the purchase of three Toyota Corolla XLI (1,300cc) cars and one Suzuki APV van, as well as Rs5 million for one year’s rent for the three houses.

The Punjab Police has deployed security with the Turkish officers, who have also been provided office accommodation and staff in the Central Police Office, an official said.

The inspector general has set up a committee consisting of Additional IG Muhammad Amlaish, Operations DIG Farooq Mazhar, Admin and Security AIG Sajjad Hasan Manjh and Traffic Headquarters Senior Superintendent Tariq Abbas Qureshi to assist the Turkish delegation in their operations and in formulating security and counter-terrorism strategies.

Manjh has been appointed the focal person for the Turkish delegation by the police, while the deputy police secretary has been appointed focal person by the home secretary.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2013.