Tag: Punjab police

  • Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Did a sniper really take shots at Maryam Nawaz in Lahore? IG answers

    Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastgir has dismissed reports of bullets being fired at the vehicle of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz last week when she was to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore.

    Many police officials were injured when a scuffle broke out last week between policemen and PML-N workers ahead of Maryam’s appearance. Footage of the incident suggested that workers had brought bags full of stones which were pelted at police and security officials.

    READ: Safdar for police case against Imran over ‘assassination attempt’ on wife Maryam

    Former senator Sajid Mir, after meeting Maryam on Sunday, claimed she had been targeted by some sniper during her appearance, saying the windscreen of her bullet-proof vehicle could not be smashed by a stone.

    Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dastgir said no evidence was offered to back up claims asserted through reports and social media.

    He also said the institution of police is an independent one and has no tussle with any political party. However, he warned, those who took the law into their hands will be punished.

  • Software installed to keep Punjab Police’s Rs119b annual budget under check

    The finance wing of the Punjab Police has presented a comprehensive financial management software to stop corruption and embezzlement of funds in police accounts.

    Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) helped in the development and installation of the software. This kind of software has not been deployed before in any state-run department in Pakistan.

    The software will monitor the budget of Rs119 billion that is allocated to police annually. The initiative was taken keeping in view the previous mega scams of corruption in police accounts when the district accountants had withdrawn funds worth hundreds of millions of rupees and misused them for personal gains.

    Recently, a similar scandal has embarrassed Punjab Police when an inquiry panel of senior police officers proposed disciplinary action against a senior officer following a mega scam of Rs340 million in the accounts of the traffic police department.

    With this new software, the accounts will be made online, giving access to the Regional Police Officers (RPOs), District Police Officers (DPOs) and the Finance wing at the Central Police Office (CPO) to keep monitoring of the funds withdrawn by the accountants of the concerned districts.

    Meanwhile, according to a police handout, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Shoaib Dastgir said that police station is a basic unit in police department and officers should play a supervisory role for improving working and prestige of this basic unit so that problems of citizens may be resolved by the timely provision of justice.

  • Lahore police launch app to verify domestic workers

    Lahore police launch app to verify domestic workers

    The Lahore police have introduced the ‘Pehchaan App’ so that the public can access FIR and criminal records before hiring a domestic worker.  

    The Pehchaan App is easily available on the App Store and anyone can download it. Users have to register with CNIC number before accessing records.  

    An inaugural ceremony was held at the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed’s office. The smartphone application is developed with the help of Punjab Safe Cities Authorities (PSCA) by CCPO Hameed.

    DIG Investigation Dr Inam Waheed and SSP Investigation Zeeshan Asghar also attended the ceremony.

    In the initial phase, the App is being introduced in Lahore as a pilot project.  

  • In a first, Rawalpindi police recruit a transgender officer

    In a first, Rawalpindi police recruit a transgender officer

    For the first time in their history, the Rawalpindi police have recruited a transgender as a police officer in their squad.

    According to details, Reem Sharif, a prominent transgender rights activist in Islamabad will now join the police department as a police officer.

    Reem proved that she has all the skills required to become a 14-grade police officer and will now be deployed in Rawalpindi’s women police force. She is expected to begin her duties soon.

    Speaking on her appointment, Sharif said, “I am delighted to be in this position. Through this, I will have the option to deal with some of the most pressing issues faced by my transgender community.”

    “I knew I needed to live my life and be true to who I was. I need to be honest with myself, and that was coming out as a transgender woman”, she added.

    Reem further said, “I don’t consider this position as a career ladder but as a milestone for representing my community. My presence will make it comfortable for the transgender community”.

    Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police station, with the purpose to provide justice to the trans community, who face constant abuse from society, has also made a special desk to provide them with equal rights.

  • 21 cops on Sunday, 92 health professionals in two days test positive for coronavirus

    21 cops on Sunday, 92 health professionals in two days test positive for coronavirus

    At least 21 Punjab Police officials on Sunday and 92 health professionals within the last two days have tested positive for the new coronavirus. The sudden spike in the number of health professionals contracting the virus has increased the national tally of infected doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff to 345.

    As per the details of the infected cops, additional inspector general (AIG) operations has said that over 60 police personnel were tested for the virus, out of which 21 tested positive. One of the cops was deployed at the Central Police Office (CPO) whereas the results of many others are awaited.

    While cops dealing with masses are at a greater risk to contract COVID-19 and incidents of them falling sick have been reported from various parts of the country, health professionals remain on the frontline in the battle against the global pandemic.

    According to a Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination official, the number of health professionals contracting the virus increased to 345 from 253 after new cases were detected among the medical community.

    The official said that doctors are the most-affected among healthcare professionals with over 165 of them now undergoing treatment across the country. As many as 131 members of paramedical and support staff, as well as 41 nurses, have also contracted the virus.

    Apart from the confirmed cases, more than 1,500 doctors, nurses, paramedics and those with whom they came into contact, are in quarantine. Many are waiting for their test results after coming into contact with health professionals who have already tested positive, the official said.

    They added that most of the cases of coronavirus among health professionals had been reported in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, while a few cases had also been reported in Sindh and the federal capital.

  • Heartwarming video shows Punjab cop buying food for stray dogs, feeding them

    Heartwarming video shows Punjab cop buying food for stray dogs, feeding them

    As the lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus stays in place and animal rights activists voice concerns over strays starving to death, a heartwarming video over the internet has shown a Punjab Police cop buying food and feeding stray dogs by the side of a road.

    “If only people considered us policemen as humans. Forgive our mistakes. We are your servants. We deserve that much love,” wrote Lahore’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Investigation Dr Inam Waheed as he tweeted the video that showed the cop, namely Ishtiaq, buying food and feeding it to dogs.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/inamkhan24/status/1250479090399883264

    Here’s what Twitterati, including celebrities, have to say about it:

    “I salute such great people,” wrote another user.

    Earlier, amid appeals by activists to take care of strays during the lockdown, heartwarming stories had surfaced of people helping animals suffering and adjusting to the changes caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

    “During the lockdown, animals have been abandoned in cages in markets and pet stores in Karachi. Many have starved and died. Dr Sheila is a vet working tirelessly to help collect, vaccinate and find shelter for these poor animals. Please, please, please donate. And share,” tweeted a user.

    Another user shared the picture of a group of volunteers feeding monkeys.

    Have something to add to this story? Let The Current know in the comments below.

  • Buzdar govt ‘softly declines’ to implement PM Imran-approved police reforms

    Buzdar govt ‘softly declines’ to implement PM Imran-approved police reforms

    Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar-led Punjab government has softly declined to implement the police reforms package that was approved by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan ahead of his departure for Saudi Arabia and the United States (US), The News reported.

    According to reports, the Punjab government through the Interior Ministry was recently asked to implement the reforms package, however, the provincial administration has expressed reservations over certain measures approved by the premier “without proper consultation with the stakeholders”.

    The premier has reportedly given a go-ahead to the home departments to “take over control of the police” in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad. Under the new system, the major functions of the police would be performed by the deputy commissioners (DCs) who have been given judicial powers of 22A and 22B besides the authority to inspect police stations.

    While the federal government wanted the implementation of these reforms in Punjab through an ordinance by September 30, the provincial government has assigned a high-level committee to review the reforms package for police and return to centre with its recommended changes.

    The report further said that the committee will be headed by the Punjab law minister and include three provincial ministers, chief secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), an ex-chief secretary and a retired IGP.

    It has been tasked with completing its deliberations within a week.

    “Following a presentation from the interior secretary, the reforms package was given a go-ahead by the PM. While the Punjab law minister was present during the presentation, neither the CM nor the IGP was there,” the report quoted sources as saying.

    COPS UNHAPPY WITH REFORMS:

    Meanwhile, officers of the Police Service of Pakistan as well as Punjab Police are “very upset with the way the reforms package was approved by the premier”.

    Reacting to the reforms, senior officers of Punjab Police held a meeting at the Central Police Office on Wednesday night and threatened that they would resign, Dawn reported.

    The police officers stated categorically that they “would prefer to leave their services rather than allowing the bureaucracy to take over the police department”. They unanimously rejected the new scheme which, they said, was an attempt of the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) to bring police under its control.

    Reports quoted an official as saying that the participants of the meeting decided to take up the matter with CM Buzdar and parliamentarians to highlight their reservations.

    Senior policemen authorised the IGP to meet the CM and bring to his knowledge their concerns. They also decided to present “factual situation” regarding the “failure” of the DCs on many fronts.

    Meanwhile, Law Minister Raja Basharat held a meeting with the IGP and other senior police officers who apprised him of their concerns. The law minister assured the IGP and other senior police officers that he would play his role in addressing their legitimate demands by taking these up with the chief minister.

  • ‘Punjab cops were never like Swiss police,’ CM’s spokesperson says

    ‘Punjab cops were never like Swiss police,’ CM’s spokesperson says

    Amid rising numbers of police brutality cases, the spokesperson to Punjab chief minister (CM), Dr Shahbaz Gill, has said that the personnel of the provincial police department “were never like those in Switzerland”.

    “Changing the culture of any department takes time. Be it exploiting or improving, it does not happen overnight,” said Gill, whose ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been elected to power after promises to reform Punjab police, among others.

    Referring to the recent spike in police brutality cases and custodial deaths in the province, Gill said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had told CM Usman Buzdar to revamp service-related institutions of Punjab, specifically the police department.

    “He [PM] also appreciated the role played by Punjab police on Ashura and gave clear directions that the police should serve its people as it did in Muharram, rather than being violent and torturing its citizens.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “Was it [Punjab police] like Swiss police a year ago? We should know it takes time to change the culture of any department,” he said, adding that it had taken over two years to reform the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police.

  • ‘Will reform Punjab police first after assuming power’, vows Imran Khan

    ‘Will reform Punjab police first after assuming power’, vows Imran Khan

    With the increase in the number of police brutality cases in Pakistan, yet another statement from the past has come back to haunt the Prime Minister (PM), Imran Khan.

    Last year during his speech at Bahawalpur city, Imran Khan vowed that his first act after assuming power as PM will be to “bring reforms in Punjab police”. He said that he will make Punjab Police exactly like the one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa free from political influence.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLIEgIpYoaA

    But with the recent appearance of two torture and murder cases of Punjab police in Lahore, it seems that Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf (PTI) government has failed to complete another promise it made to its supporters.

    Last month in August, officials from the anti-corruption department unearthed a private torture cell in a forest near Karol village, set up by the station house officer (SHO) and constables of Gojjar Pura police to torture people illegally.

    Similarly, a few days ago the ATM robber identified as Salahuddin Ayubi who went viral for making faces on the CCTV camera while robbing an ATM passed away in police custody.

    The police claimed that Ayubi was behaving like a “mad man” in lockup when he suddenly became unwell. They added that the deceased was reportedly suffering from a health condition.

    Both these cases have sparked outrage on social media and people are demanding justice from the Punjab Government.

    This is not the first time police has been accused of brutally torturing or murdering people.

    Previously, on January 19, four people were killed in an alleged shootout in Sahiwal, with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel claiming they had killed a local commander of militant organisation Daesh and three others in the operation.

    However, the eyewitnesses had claimed that the police recovered no explosives from the alleged militant’s vehicle. The case is still pending in the court.

  • Video: Police torture cell run by SHO, constables unearthed in Lahore

    Video: Police torture cell run by SHO, constables unearthed in Lahore

    A secret torture cell run by station house officer (SHO) and constables has been unearthed in Lahore’s Gujjarpura area, exposing the mistreatment of Punjab police, Dawn has reported.

    According to the details, Gojjar Pura police has set up a private torture cell in a forest near Karol village which was unearthed by officials of the anti-corruption department, who were in the field for investigation of a case.

    During their investigation, the anti-corruption officials heard cries, traced them to a building located right in the middle of a jungle and filmed whatever they saw. 

    They found six locked men, including a bedridden man in serious condition due to apparently third-degree torture by the suspected policemen.

    The bedridden man, identified as Amjad claimed that the suspected police officials entered his house by scaling the boundary walls, dragged his wife and children and then bundled him in a police van without informing him of the reason of his arrest.

    Other captives said the police officials would come over in the night to torture them only.

    The Lahore Operations DIG has taken notice of the report and summoned Gujjarpura SHO Raza Jaffery and three other police personnel.