Law enforcement: Headless city police also lacking requisite numbers
No RPO since November; on average there is one police officer for every 1,500 citizens.
File photo of policemen. PHOTO: FILE.
RAWALPINDI:
With crime rate increasing by the day, lack of manpower has incapacitated the district police to perform its duty as there are only 7,000 cops to protect life and property of around five million citizens.
Still, half of the total strength remains deputed on special duties.
The crime rate in the district is increasing, particularly the street crime. Lack of strength arguably was one of the major reasons behind the increasing criminal activities.
A senior officer wishing not to be named said that there are 10,000 sanctioned posts in the Rawalpindi police, while there are only 7,000 cops. Around 3,000 are deputed on security duties across the district whereas around 500 work in the office.
Resultantly, there are only 3,500 police officials to police the entire district. “Practically, we have only 3,500 police personnel to fight against crime across the district,” the officer said.
Another senior police officer who also requested anonymity said that the shortage of manpower is hampering investigations and crime control.
“We will soon send a proposal to the Inspector General of Police in Lahore for filling up the vacant posts,” he added.
In the district, there are 30 police stations.
“No doubt, we have no right to delay the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) under the pretext of shortage of staff. This is not fair,” an officer said. He said that those who do not register FIRs are corrupt officers as getting the FIRs registered is a constitutional right of a citizen.
The police have ostensibly failed to control crime particularly during the last two months. Everyday, robbers and looters are depriving citizens of their valuables but police prefers to look the other way. In some cases, citizens alleged the police of patronizing robbers’ gangs. During the last one month, at least three citizens were killed during robberies in the city alone.
RPO seat lying vacant since November 19
The interest of government to stop the growing crime in this district could be gauged form this fact that important seat of the Regional Police Officer (RPO) is lying vacant since November 19, 2013.
After the Ashura violence, the government had removed the RPO Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh and City Police Officer (CPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana. Later, on Akhtar Hayat Lalika was appointed the CPO.
In the absence of the RPO, Lalika holds the additional charge. Senior police officers requested the government to depute an upright and honest officer as RPO so that crime could be controlled.
Despite repeated attempts, Lalika could not be approached for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.
With crime rate increasing by the day, lack of manpower has incapacitated the district police to perform its duty as there are only 7,000 cops to protect life and property of around five million citizens.
Still, half of the total strength remains deputed on special duties.
The crime rate in the district is increasing, particularly the street crime. Lack of strength arguably was one of the major reasons behind the increasing criminal activities.
A senior officer wishing not to be named said that there are 10,000 sanctioned posts in the Rawalpindi police, while there are only 7,000 cops. Around 3,000 are deputed on security duties across the district whereas around 500 work in the office.
Resultantly, there are only 3,500 police officials to police the entire district. “Practically, we have only 3,500 police personnel to fight against crime across the district,” the officer said.
Another senior police officer who also requested anonymity said that the shortage of manpower is hampering investigations and crime control.
“We will soon send a proposal to the Inspector General of Police in Lahore for filling up the vacant posts,” he added.
In the district, there are 30 police stations.
“No doubt, we have no right to delay the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) under the pretext of shortage of staff. This is not fair,” an officer said. He said that those who do not register FIRs are corrupt officers as getting the FIRs registered is a constitutional right of a citizen.
The police have ostensibly failed to control crime particularly during the last two months. Everyday, robbers and looters are depriving citizens of their valuables but police prefers to look the other way. In some cases, citizens alleged the police of patronizing robbers’ gangs. During the last one month, at least three citizens were killed during robberies in the city alone.
RPO seat lying vacant since November 19
The interest of government to stop the growing crime in this district could be gauged form this fact that important seat of the Regional Police Officer (RPO) is lying vacant since November 19, 2013.
After the Ashura violence, the government had removed the RPO Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh and City Police Officer (CPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana. Later, on Akhtar Hayat Lalika was appointed the CPO.
In the absence of the RPO, Lalika holds the additional charge. Senior police officers requested the government to depute an upright and honest officer as RPO so that crime could be controlled.
Despite repeated attempts, Lalika could not be approached for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.