ISLAMABAD: Security checkposts in the capital city have started giving deserted looks early in the morning as policemen deputed there leave for Sehri in nearby hotels and restaurants.

A senior police officer, when contacted, said due to the price hike officials in the pickets had been told to arrange Sehri from their own pockets. He said the officials were only being provided Iftari.

He said last year the police faced a similar situation when meal could not be arranged for the policemen during the first week of Ramazan.

When the police officers were informed that the pickets remained unmanned early in the morning, they arranged Sehri for the officials at the places of their duty.

The officer said in 2014 an amount of Rs700,000 was provided to the four superintendents of police (SPs) in the city for arranging Sehri and Iftari for the policemen manning the pickets.

The officer said though this year the amount had been increased to Rs889,000, due to the hike in prices it was not possible to arrange meal for the policemen in Sehri.

He said there were about 200 officials performing duties in the pickets and they were being provided Iftari.

The officer said so far this year the amount allocated for arranging Iftari had also not been released and in the meantime all the SHOs had been asked to arrange Iftari for the picket personnel in their jurisdiction from their own resources.

The officer said when the police officials leave the checkposts, it puts the security arrangements in the city at a risk.

It may be mentioned that the capital police have been providing Iftari and Sehri to the security personnel for the last five years.

A number of police officials told Dawn that Sehri should be provided to the policemen in the checkposts as a majority of the restaurants and markets remained closed at that time.

Besides, it is very difficult for the officials manning pickets on highways to arrange Sehri for themselves.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2015

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