Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Sukhera said on Thursday the department was considering recruiting officers directly to the post of deputy superintendent of police (DSP). He said a final decision had not been made in this regard.
He was talking to newsmen at a darbar at police lines in Bahawalpur.
Sukhera said Punjab was ahead of other provinces in the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
He said the crime rate had registered a downward trend. He said there had been a 25 per cent decline in reported murder cases.
The IGP said all policemen should serve the public with honesty and sincerity.
“It is unfortunate that some officials abuse their authority and neglect their duties,” he said.
Sukhera said the chief minister had provided more resources for welfare of police officials than before.
He said under the chief minister’s package for police martyrs, the families would be paid compensation between Rs5 million and Rs15 million.
The IGP said children of martyred sub inspectors and constables would be offered jobs in pay scale five to seven.
He said a Police Welfare Fund had been set up for constables. He said their children would be offered scholarships. He said aid for widows of the martyrs had also been increased.
He said police records would be computerised in six months.
The IGP said display of weapons and firing into air were forbidden.
“Those caught violating the law would be dealt strictly with,” he said.
He said policemen should avoid registering cases against drug addicts but take strict action against drug dealers.
He said shooting at young men running away from pickets should be avoided.
“Often young boys don’t have registration plates and get scared,” he said. “When they present no threat, do no shoot them.”
He said the officials should take extra care in such cases.
He directed the DPOs to devote two to three hours daily to hearing of public complaints. He also ordered that the licensed weapons used in any crime or aerial firing should immediately be confiscated and their licenses cancelled.
Regional police officer (RPO) Ehsan Sadiq and DPO Sarfraz Ahmed Falki also spoke.