IGP orders improvement in women and child protection centres

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon chaired a meeting on performance and reforms of the women and child protection centres in Sindh.

Moreover, in a meeting held at the Central Police Office Karachi, proposals were sought for the establishment of a special unit in the investigation department related to organised crimes against women and children, and serious cases.

Officials said the committee comprising the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee chief, DIG crime and investigations and others would prepare proposals for setting up a special unit in the investigation department and devise a standard operating procedure for the working of police women protection centres.

The meeting was attended by the DIGs of crime and investigations, headquarters, Criminal Investigation Agency, establishment, IT and finance, and other police officers. The participants of the meeting were given a detailed briefing by the AIG for gender-based violence and human rights about the performance and cases of the women and child protection centres.

The AIG informed the meeting that there were 40 women and child protection centres functioning in SSP and DIG offices across the province. Since January, the department has received 2,550 complaints against 40 different types of domestic violence and a total of 2,252 complaints were resolved while FIRs were registered on 209 complaints.

IGP Memon said there was a need for improving the reporting mechanism in women and child protection centres, and maximum public access should be ensured by activating the complaint number 1715 round the clock.

He added that with the increase in the number of operators at the complaint centres, awareness materials and instructions should also be provided to the staff. Moreover, a comprehensive SOP should be set up for cognisable and non-cognisable complaints and cases of organised crimes related to women and children should be investigated by an expert and experienced officer.

The police chief said arrangements should also be made for special training of investigation staff. Earlier on Sunday, the Sindh police chief being a chief guest at the Police Darbar thanked the National Police Foundation (NPF) for its projects for the welfare of the Sindh police.

On the occasion, NPF Managing Director Sabir Hussain said the establishment of the NPF was an achievement of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He added that the purpose of the NPF was to provide health, education and other facilities to the police.

He said he was the son of Karachi and had returned after 27 years with a plan for the welfare of police employees. He explained that various builders were collaborating with the foundation for its house scheme. He said the idea of providing interest-free electric motorbikes to police personnel on instalments was proposed by the IGP.

The event was told that the police housing society will have its own hospital, university and TCF school. The IGP said he was grateful to Hussain and his team for the welfare measures taken by the foundation and appreciated its initiatives and projects.

He commended offering houses to police employees at rates that were half of the market price. “I want every policeman to have his own house,” IGP said. He assured all possible support to the NFP.