Police directed to go after armed gangs in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The Capital City Police have been directed to go after the gangs and individuals involved in display of weapons and killings of people in various clashes in the district.

Presiding over a meeting on law and order on Tuesday, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed directed the officers of Capital City Police Peshawar to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to prevent all types of crimes, especially display of weapons and killings.

Capital City Police Officer Qasim Ali and Additional IGP CTD Shaukat Abbas briefed the IGP about the steps taken by their respective units to prevent crime and maintain law and order.

Additional IGP Special Branch, DIGs Operations, Security, Investigation, Chief Traffic Officer Peshawar, SSP Operations Peshawar, SSP Investigation Peshawar, DPO Khyber, AIG Operations, SP Investigation Khyber and all Divisional SPs and SDPOs of Peshawar Range attended the meeting.

The IGP was angry over the increasing display of weapons and incidents of killing and looting in Peshawar and directed the participants of the meeting to make a large-scale preventive action against such crimes.

Peshawar Police were also directed to bring transparency at the police station level and ensure registration of all the cases and be polite with those coming to seek help. The IGP categorically said that the staff involved in non-registration of cases or changing the nature of the cases will be punished.

Zulfiqar also directed the police of Peshawar and Khyber to launch a massive crackdown on drug dealers, elements involved in manufacturing, sale and trafficking of ice. The cops were also directed to go after the land mafia.

A large number of armed groups, which also get support of local political elements, are reportedly involved in land grabbing. A proper survey by the Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau can identify all such elements in city and rural areas.

The IGP said improving the investigation department was his top priority and directed the participants to bring the accused involved to justice through the best and standard investigation. He directed the senior officers to appoint professional police officers in the investigation.

The IGP said that hard work and honesty are the first conditions for achieving the set goals and urged the participants to make hard work and honesty their motto, which will definitely pay off in case of success. The IGP said that the process of reward and punishment in the police force will continue.

The IGP also directed to conduct search and strike and intelligence-based operations in Peshawar and its suburbs more effectively.

The IGP directed the CTD to further intensify the ongoing operations in the province and reiterated the resolve that the efforts of the police will continue until the complete eradication of terrorism.