ISLAMABAD: In a short period of one month, the officials of the Islamabad police did not pay heed to the orders of their superior officers regarding measures to control the crime rate and increase vigilance to prevent untoward incidents.

Sources said the superintendents of the police (SPs), who are in charge of zones, ignored an order from the SSP Security and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations.

Instructions were issued to all the Zonal SPs from the office of the SSP Security, stating that as per the directives of the DIG, all SPs will get reports from the station house officers in their jurisdiction regarding bus terminals and railway station records, transport goods and depot records, and submit the same to the DIG.

The officials were also asked to complete details and records of visitors staying in guest houses and hotels, details of tenants, and complete records of people and their belongings. All SPs were directed to submit such details on a daily basis in the office of the DIG.

DIG office had asked Zonal SPs to increase vigilance, submit daily reports about bus and railway stations among other things

However, the SPs ignored the directives issued by the SSP under the orders of the DIG. Over the issue, a warning was conveyed to all the SPs through their readers, stating that the DIG office had not received a report from SPs. The communique asked them to immediately submit the reports regarding measures taken by them in view of the directives.

In a meeting on Sunday, which was convened in light of a threat alert, the top brass of the capital police decided to mount vigilance in the capital, especially at bus terminals, the railway station, hotels, motels, depots, Sabzi Mandi, and slums. However, the response of the SPs regarding measures to prevent any untoward incident is non-serious and unprofessional, they added.

In February, the senior superintendent of police operations asked the staff of the police stations to refrain from land grabbing and money minting activities. The directives read that “with great regret” a senior officer has been repeatedly requesting the staff to take interest in their work, but despite this, no one is giving any attention. The staff of the police stations should also “mend their ways, and those who are engaged in land grabbing and revenue should refrain from these activities and take interest in their work.

It also referred to an inquiry conducted by the SSP. The inquiry revealed that the beat officers have no data about thieves, including those who are involved in the activity. Similarly, they had no idea which neighbourhoods the criminals were coming from and which areas they were going to. The police do not have enough data regarding the snatchers and auto thieves active in their respective jurisdictions, it added. Moreover, there is no recovery of the stolen property as the officers have shown no interest in it, the directive stated, adding that they neither have the pictures of the criminals nor information regarding them.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025