RAWALPINDI: Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi region Babar Sarfraz Alpa suspended the station house officer (SHO) Cantt Rawalpindi for concealing facts and failing to submit an accurate report in response to a petitioner’s request.

The first priority is to ensure justice and merit to citizens, and officers guilty of negligence and carelessness will have to go through accountability, the RPO said.

According to a spokesperson for the RPO, a citizen had submitted a complaint regarding a transaction to the Regional Complaint Cell. The RPO subsequently instructed the concerned officers to take action in accordance with merit.

However, the report compiled by the concerned SHO Cantt Rawalpindi Mohammad Salim Qureshi was not found to be in accordance with the facts, as a result of which, the RPO took strict notice and suspended Mr Qureshi while issuing a show-cause notice.

On this occasion, RPO Rawalpindi emphasised that providing justice to the citizens of the Rawalpindi region remained a top priority, adding that any official guilty of negligence would have to face accountability.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s special monitoring team, led by retired Brig Babar Alauddin visited the Regional Police Office and City Police Office on Wednesday.

The team was briefed about the crime situation and police achievements.

The city police officer (CPO) reported a 26pc reduction in crime based on data from emergency service 15 calls. The police, he noted, had successfully dismantled major crime gangs and maintained control over incidents of car snatching.

Additionally, the CPO apprised the CM’s team that the traffic situation in the garrison city was improving gradually, with an ongoing crackdown against encroachments. The CPO also informed the team about the security and traffic management measures implemented during the Pakistan-Bangladesh test cricket matches in Rawalpindi.

During the visit, RPO Babar Sarfraz Alpa briefed Mr Alauddin on the geographical boundaries, crime rates, and law and order situation of the Rawalpindi region.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2024