KARACHI: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh AD Khawaja on Wednesday said that the provincial police force operates on regulations laid down in 1861 and that there was an immediate need to improve those.
Khawaja was speaking to officers at the inaugural ceremony of a reporting room established in Thatta, a press release issued by the police department stated.
The Sindh police chief said that lawmakers in the provincial government were “well aware” of the need to revise the regulations. He urged them to follow footsteps of the leaders of other provinces.
The IGP added that he was trying to improve the experience of those who visit the police stations to report a crime and revamp the ‘thana’ culture ─ a term locals use to connote the off-putting behaviour of officials in police stations when they want to lodge a complaint.
“We are trying to redo the setting of reporting rooms in police stations across the province to facilitate citizens and improve their experience when they come forward with a complaint,” he said, adding the department is working on setting up around 100 reporting rooms in Karachi and 136 in Sindh.
The police chief further informed that reporting rooms are equipped with closed-circuit television cameras and other modern technology, instructing officials to cooperate with the public and vice versa.
Meanwhile, AD Khawaja has ordered each of the Zonal DIGs to submit detailed reports about FIRs registered and consequent actions taken against manufacturers and retailers of “Gutka,” a concoction of hazardous chemical material causing oral cancer among the users.
The police chief directed the officials to also share with him the status of relevant cases at the local courts.
The IGP Sindh taking notice of media reports about alleged connivance of police with the “gutka mafia” in Karachi in particular and other parts of the province in general directed the Zonal DIGs to investigate the matter and take stern action against the officials found involved in supporting the criminals.
IGP orders strict security during LB polls in Larkana
AD Khawaja has ordered strict security measures for the forthcoming local bodies’ elections in Larkana. He directed the concerned officials to ensure foolproof security measures for the polling staff, voters and for increasing snap checking, picketing, and patrolling around the polling booths.
He said before the initiation of the polling process, the officials must ensure clearance of polling stations by the bomb disposal squad.
The police chief said the officials of police station level must take extraordinary measures for the delivery of ballot boxes, and during the counting of votes.
The police officials must play their due role for transparent polling.