Graduation day: 411 SIs ‘trained in policing of minorities’ graduate

IGP says that besides senior policemen, the training was overseen by retired judges .

LAHORE:

For the first time in the Punjab police’s history, sub inspectors have undergone training basic human rights and policing of minorities, women and children, Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera said on Monday.

He was addressing a ceremony at the Police Training College, Sihala, where 411 cadets graduated as sub inspectors. Of these, 335 were men and 76 women.

The IGP said that the training was overseen by not just senior police officers but also retired judges. “We obtained the services of retired judges and law experts to train officers in case law, Criminal Procedure Code and Pakistan Penal Code,” he said. Media experts also delivered lectures during the training session, he said.

The IGP said other lessons covered were the maintenance of police station record, awareness about basic human rights and values, professional conduct, and policing of minorities, children and women.

He said the 411 SIs would now undergo a three-month elite training course. He hoped the training would enable the officials to enforce rule of law in the province.

Highly qualified

Muhammad Nadeem, who passed the course in the first position, has a bachelors’ in law. Sumaira Nazir, the second position holder, has a master of sciences (MSc) degree in chemistry and a master of philosophy (MPhil) degree in forensic chemistry.



Among other graduates, there was a doctor of philosophy (PhD), two more MPhil, 17 masters of business administration (MBA), 35 masters of computer sciences (MCS), 48 masters of arts (MA), 30 bachelors of sciences (BSc), 20 bachelors of business administration (BBA), 34 bachelors of law (LLB), 31 bachelors of engineering and two certified accountants. Provincial Home Minister Col (retd) Shuja Khanzada, Home Secretary Major (retd) Azam Suleman, Police College Sihala Commandant DIG Aamir Zulfiqar, Course Commandant SSP Ali Mohsin, United Nations’ Representatives in Pakistan on Drugs and Crimes Cesav Guedf and Collie Brown were present on the occasion.

‘Social uplift necessary to fight terror’

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that the current war against terrorism was the biggest war the country had confronted in its history. He said the country was proud of the sacrifices rendered in the war by officers of the Armed Forces and the police.

He was addressing the graduation ceremony at the Sihala Police Training Centre.

The chief minister said that besides use of force, social and economic development and provision of justice were needed for elimination of terrorism from the society.

He praised the graduates for their high qualifications and hoped that they would help the government transform policing culture in the province.

He said that the provincial government was spending huge resources in training of police officials.

“We will continue to provide funds for the purpose in future as well to modernise the Police Department,” he said. He said no country would be able to compete with Pakistan if it succeeded in transforming the culture of policing.

Later, the chief minister announced a Rs2.5 million cash prize for the team that trained the SIs.

He also announced provision of big city allowance for the employees of the Sihala Police College.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.