Response to online police complaints ‘encouraging’

BAHAWALPUR: Around 150 complaints have been received within two months after the introduction of online policing in Bahawalpur division.

According to Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dr Ehsan Sadiq, in March online policing had introduced telephonic and text message complaint system for public in case of any emergency so they could register grievances with police. This system generated encouraging response.

The RPO told Dawn the 150 complaints in two months included 46 regarding non-registration of first information reports (FIR) against police stations, 41 poor investigations and 19 working of police victim response officers appointed in police stations to deal with issues between rival parties.

He further said that out of the 46 complaints about non-registration of FIRs, 16 were proved false while proper legal action was taken on the complaints found genuine against police officials found guilty.

The RPO said the online service was a new initiative meant to address grievances of the public.

He also expressed concern over the rising number of deaths in road accidents within a year in Bahawalpur region and admonished traffic police, National Highway and Motorway Police and Punjab Highway Patrol. He directed police institutions concerned to launch a drive for adherence to traffic laws, use of helmets by motorcyclists and also hold seminars.

BAIL: District and Sessions Judge Rana Masood Akhtar on Saturday extended up to May 20 the interim bail before arrest of three contractors allegedly involved in a scam of millions of rupees in government Civil Hospital, Jhangiwali Road.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Aziz had last month got an FIR registered against Sarfraz Ahmed, Chaudhry Abdul Raoof and Ehsan Chattha for failing to carry out his orders regarding the repair of damaged portions of the hospital’s new building and removal of faults in the construction of over Rs3 billion.

The nominated contractors had managed to secure a protective bail earlier from the Lahore High Court and later an interim bail before arrest from the district and sessions judge on May 5.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016

 

Friday, May 20, 2016