New security plan was introduced following the change of command in Islamabad Police, ensuring recruitment of new blood to enable the under-strength Capital Police to ensure provision of better security to the residents of Federal Capital.
Capital Police at present has a total strength of 10,500 personnel and about half of them (5000) are on security duty to protect VVIPs and VIPs including President, Prime Minister, Ministers, MNAs, Judges and other personalities, while just 2500 personnel are performing their duty as operational police meant to control crime and provide peace of mind to about 1.4 million population of the Capital city, Business Recorder learnt from sources in Islamabad Police.
They said that out of the total strength 3000 personnel are performing their duties in Traffic Police, Special Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Police Lines Headquarters.
The new security plan prepared after Wajid Durrani, former IGP Islamabad (now IGP Sindh), all the checkpoints which were removed in January 2011 on the orders of Wajid Durrani have now been erected, besides demanding more police force to perform duties, sources said.
They said that at present Islamabad Police needs more than 5000 additional personnel to meet the requirements, but there is complete silence in Interior Ministry regarding the important issue. They said that in the past former IGP started process for recruitment of over 1000 persons in Islamabad Police, test interviews, physical tests were taken but the Interior Ministry cancelled the orders of the recruitment without any proper reason.
The process for recruitment of over 1000 personnel including Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors, Constables and Lady Constables was re-initiated in December 2009 and test interviews of candidates were conducted in January 2010 at different parts of the country. But the Interior Ministry suddenly directed for immediate stop of the process.
They said that Capital Police is already running under-strength, which is the main reason of various issues in the Capital. Another aspect, which is causing dent to professional performance of the police force is shortage of resources, which is haunting the investigation, sources said, adding that the shortage of resources is affecting the performance level of cops regarding investigation of cases. Resources allocated to Islamabad Police are nominal.
Kaleem Imam, former Capital Police chief initiated the process of recruitment and his successor Wajid Durrani, present IGP Islamabad Police has also sent a summary to Interior Ministry for recruitment of over 4000 people in Islamabad Police, but the summary is still pending in Interior Ministry without any response, they said, adding that there is complete silence from Interior Ministry.
Capital Police was formed on January 1, 1981 by virtue of presidential order no. 17 & 18 of 1980 to fulfil the need for separate Police organisation for the federal capital, Islamabad. The main aim of raising new police force for capital was to provide safe, secure and public friendly ecology to the citizens of Islamabad, effective maintenance of law and order, prevention and detection of crime, efficient and smooth flow of traffic on the pattern of advanced traffic systems of the world, protection of VIPs and dignitaries visiting the federal capital, foreign diplomats residing in Islamabad and vital installations and encourage public participation in the fight against crime - CPLC, public conciliatory committees, human rights watch group. The strength of Capital Police at the time of its inception was 3484, including 2539 constables.