Home dept launches initiative to track criminals through device

LAHORE:In a landmark move to monitor criminals and ensure public safety, the Punjab Home Department has decided to equip habitual offenders and individuals listed under the Fourth Schedule with tracking devices. These devices will be distributed among the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Parole Department, and the newly-formed Crime Control Department.

According to the plan, an initial batch of 1,500 tracking devices will be allocated to law enforcement agencies. The decision to implement electronic monitoring was made during a meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal. Key officials in attendance included Special Home Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman, Additional IG Crime Control Department Sohail Zafar Chattha, DIG Punjab Operations Waqas Nazir, Additional Secretary Police Dr Zeeshan Hanif, and officers from the Law and Finance Departments.

As per details, the Crime Control Department will receive 500 tracking bands, CTD will be given 900, and the Parole Department will receive 100. These bands will allow for 24/7 surveillance of the movements of the tagged individuals.

Secretary Home Noor-ul-Amin Mengal also directed the authorities concerned to import technologically advanced tracking devices for the second phase of the initiative. The home department stated that internationally accepted surveillance practices would be adopted for criminal monitoring. Experts have recommended implanting micro-tracking chips in the bodies of the offenders to ensure uninterrupted surveillance.