Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that all political parties need to prepare for next general election instead of engaging in politics of confrontation. Talking to media persons after laying the foundation stone of a services centre at Rescue 15, he said that the present government should be allowed to complete its tenure. "If someone does not allow us to complete our term then we will not let them to complete theirs," he said.
He said that the main objective of the services centre is to improve community policing and sort out the problems of people on urgent basis. Earlier, addressing police Darbar (court), he said that without community participation, improvement in the police system is not possible; therefore, the police department needs to be reformed.
He said that a special lecture on modern policing for the personnel should be arranged to help them improve their professional conduct. The minister also urged to promote intelligence policing in order to bring police at par with the police of the developed countries.
He directed the police department to ensure people friendly attitude and pursue zero tolerance for all crimes including murders, robberies, violence, street crimes and crimes against women and children.
Iqbal said that model police station project in the federal capital should be expedited and made exemplary for the provinces to follow with the sole objective of facilitating common people. "The police department needs to adopt modern technology to put the force on modern lines and curb crime," he said.
The interior minister said that changing of typical Thana (police station) culture is one of his main programmes. He asked the police high-ups to prepare a plan for modernization of police within next two months and in this regard assistance from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) can be sought which has achieved excellence in Information Technology.
He said that the department should introduce a monthly reward system for police officials (SHO, junior officer and Jawans of the month) for showing good performance and directed to formulate a framework to assess performance of the police. The policemen exhibiting outstanding performances should also be given cash prizes.
He said that the role of police in society is very important as no country can progress without improved law and order. He requested the media to refrain from the live coverage of operations because this practice puts the lives of security personnel in harm's way. He also asked IGP Islamabad to arrange a workshop with the media in this regard.
On the occasion, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sultan Azam Taimuri said that steps for community policing are being taken, while 22 police stations of Islamabad are being computerized. He said that two facilitation centres are being established and one of them has already been inaugurated.