The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, on Wednesday, directed the Islamabad police to meet a shortage of its personnel through new inductions, to ensure improved security in the Federal Capital. Chairing a meeting, Senator Talha Mahmood said that Islamabad was the capital city and an adequate police staff was needed to provide a peaceful and secure atmosphere to its residents. He said that a survey of Katchi Abadis should be completed at the earliest and a report in this respect should be presented within a month.
The meeting, which was attended by Senators Fateh Muhammad Hasani, Begum Najma Hameed, Shahi Syed and Mukhtar Ahmad Dhamrah, was given a detailed briefing by the Additional Secretary Interior, the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad.
The committee was informed that out of the total 9,733 police personnel in the Capital, 26 percent were deployed for the security of the Diplomatic Enclave and VIPs.
The IG apprised the meeting that vehicles dedicated for VIP duty could not cross their designated limits, which was 11 to 15 km.
He said that a survey of Katchi Abadis, aimed at compiling data about their inhabitants, would be examined by police stations concerned. The survey is expected to be completed within a month, he added.
He said that the police personnel had to perform 12 to 16 hours of duty and the reason behind this was a dearth of staff. He further said that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Islamabad police was equipped with modern telecom gadgets, which was helpful in tracing and nabbing criminals.
He said that 463 retired army personnel were working in the Islamabad police on contract due to a ban on new recruitment however the ban would be lifted soon.
The IGP said that under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package, 22 Balochis were employed in the Islamabad police which was more than the actual quota of the province.
