Dr Shoaib assumes charge as Punjab IGP

A few days after the Punjab government removed Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz Khan for his alleged "poor performance", National Police Bureau Managing Director Dr Shoaib Dastgir assumed the charge of new provincial police chief on Thursday.

Upon his arrival at the Central Police Office (CPO), all senior police officers welcomed Dastgir and a spirited police squad offered him warm salutations.

"If someone thinks that he/she will misuse his/her power due to the power of uniform then such persons will not be tolerated at any cost," declared the newly-appointed IG while underlining his priorities during a media briefing at the CPO.

He said it is crystal clear that we have to ensure implementation of laws for the protection of citizens. "And in this process, no one including myself will be considered above the law." He added that the system of reward and punishment will also be made better by ensuring professionalism and observation of merit in the Punjab police so that good officers could be encouraged who ensure best service delivery to public while negligent, carelessness officials who misuse power would be held accountable.

"Only those officials who will work in accordance with policy priorities will remain part of my team," said Dastgir, adding that the basic objective of the police force is to create a sense of security in the society by ensuring protection of its citizens. For that purpose, we have to work collectively because merely 200,000 cops cannot provide security to 110 million people individually, he added.

However, the IG expressed that a peaceful environment can be provided to the citizens by controlling overall crimes and the Punjab Police will ensure every possible effort with honesty, hard work and professionalism in this regard. He further said that modern projects and other good trends set by former senior officers will be continued and new projects and steps will also be taken if some better performance is required.

Responding to a query about converting Pakistan into Riasat-e-Madina, the IG said the concept of State of Madina cannot be achieved within one or two days, it is something that takes time as it is the concept of a welfare state where equal implementation of laws and protection of citizens with justice is ensured. However, we will strive to follow this principle, he added.

Dastgir continued that keeping in view the contemporary needs, smart policing will be continued since policing is a permanent journey in which changes and new trends are being incorporated according to time and situation.

About the role of the media, the newly-appointed IG in a lighter note said before criticizing or comparing the performance of police officials with any other international force the journalists should properly analyze the difference between available resources and models of their trainings. He expressed that constructive criticism by the media is vital for improving the performance of the Punjab police.

Although, the IG said the police force have so many challenges like up-gradation of training system, deficit in available resources and maintaining law and order, but steps will be taken to strengthen professionalism, observation of merit and environment of trust between public and police.

He said that to bridge trust deficit, steps shall be taken for introducing an open door policy in all offices of the senior police officers and the public will have to perform its constructive role in forming a peaceful society.

For the prompt redressal of public grievances, IG Shoaib said that the process of digitization is going on speedily and the IGP 8787 Complaint Center is playing an instrumental role in resolving the complaints the citizens. "For now on, I will personally monitor the performance of the 8787 Complaint Center for quick compensation of public grievances," he added.

Meanwhile, the IG while chairing his maiden meeting with all the senior command of the Punjab police reviewed overall crime situation of the province and issued necessary directions.

According to a police spokesperson, the newly-appointed provincial police chief after reviewing crime control and administrative matters issued necessary directions to all the senior cops.

During the meeting, Dastgir stressed the need for better service delivery by focusing on projects like Police Khidmat Markaz (facilitation centres) and Front Desks besides ensuring their effective monitoring.

"Through internal accountability mechanism, there should be no delay in taking actions against those officers or officials who are found guilty of abusing their powers," directed the IG and added that training syllabus should be concentrated deeply for improving training standards and capacity building of cops. He also directed to resolve all welfare-related issues of martyrs' families.