A 7/11 stop for complaints: Police set up dedicated, central cell for FIR registration

PAL will have a separate desk for women to make it easier for them to approach the police.

PESHAWAR:

Police have set up a special assistance desk, known as the Police Assistance Lines (PAL), where the general public can file FIRs related to specific crimes under one roof. PAL’s office is located adjacent to the West Cantt police station in Saddar.

Inaugurated by Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak on Tuesday, PAL will provide the public with a single-window operation.

Khattak said its objective was to bridge the gap between the general public and police that has widened due to militancy. There are sensitive areas in the city, especially on the outskirts, where people are unable visit police stations, he said.

PAL will facilitate these residents and provide relief in those cases that occur on a daily basis for the general public, added the CM. “The system will allows people to register FIRs under one roof.”

However, people will have to travel to West Cantt station to file the complaint, after which they will be given a copy of the FIR. Complainants can then get updates on investigations from one source, which coordinates with all other police stations regarding crimes in their jurisdiction.

Centralising complaints

While it might seem counterproductive to have residents travel from distant areas to Saddar, there is a benefit. Local police often shows reluctance in registering FIRs and PAL can register these for the complainants and then coordinate with the local station. In addition, the people employed at PAL are said to be young, educated officials.

“In this set up we are totally responsible for following a case right from the registration of the FIR through to its investigation,” Inspector Syed Johar Shah told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. Shah, who heads PAL, said they have a separate desk with female officers who operate in two shifts, making it easier for female complainants to approach the police.

Also in attendance at the ceremony, IGP Nasir Khan Durrani said extortion was a serious threat to law and order across the province and police could only crack down on criminals based in settled districts. Extortionists in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are out of their reach but action must be taken against them, he added.

Captain City Police Officer (CCPO) Ijaz Khan, SSP Najeebur Rehman Bagvi and other police officials were also present at the inauguration. PAL will operate seven days a week from 7am to 11pm and its helpline can be reached at 091-5275233.

CM on corruption

Khattak used the occasion to talk about how the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is working on legislation to end corruption in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“We have been asking the Election Commission for the past eight months to install a biometric system but people who have come to power illegally are creating hurdles in this process,” he said.

The CM further added the city’s Mass Transit System (MTS) will be inaugurated in October and it will take one year to complete. He said the system will extend from Chamkani to Hayatabad. MTS aims to provide a fast, reliable and cost-effective public transport system to facilitate urban growth and combat traffic congestion.

FIRs and cases handled
by PAL

Robber y

Missing children

Lost items

Extortion threats

Tenant Information Reporting

CNIC verification

Vehicle verification

Issuance of police character certificate

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2014.