Maryam directs mechanism to address complaints against police

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has directed the provincial home department to set up a monitoring mechanism to address the complaints related to police and law and order.

The process has been started to ensure complaints reach the top of the police hierarchy so they can be addressed effectively and the chief minister is also kept in the loop.

It was felt that since the current audit of the police was being overseen by officers themselves, it has not produced desired results. The chief minister was also informed that the crime rate on the ground was far higher than that being registered by the police. There was however a need to assign the issue to the Home Department for improving service delivery.

Confirming the development, Punjab Home Secretary, Nural Amin Mengal, said the Punjab Information Technology Board has been tasked with developing a portal for online registration of complaints against law and order and police. Not only that these complaints would be forwarded to police officers but it would also enable the Home Department to keep a supervisory watch over the department.

Mengal said the chief minister has directed the Home Department to play a role in analysing the crimes and portraying their true picture. In this context, he said a cell would also be raised to control and monitor crimes. A stakeholders meeting has been summoned for Monday to thrash out recommendations for the complaint portal, the home secretary concluded.