CCPO vows action to curb crimes

PESHAWAR: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mohammad Ali Gandapur has said that his priority is to form a competent and honest team to effectively curb crimes and aggressively go after the mafias.

“We have transferred several officers to post competent and honest officers on key positions. There will be zero tolerance for any organized involvement of any rank with criminal elements, smugglers or corrupt practices,” Mohammad Ali Gandapur, who has taken over the charge of the office a couple of weeks back, told The News.

He was heading the Mardan Range before his posting to head the Peshawar Police.

Gandapur said several gangs involved in street crimes have been busted and their members arrested recently.

He added the force has increased patrolling and vigilance in the urban and suburban areas to go after the gangs involved in street crimes. “We will be focusing on meaningful and sustained actions against narcotics peddling, especially ice dealers, land grabbing and other criminal activities. The city police have already compiled lists of those involved in sale and smuggling of ice, heroin and other drugs. Besides, the force is carrying out crackdown on the gangs involved in land grabbing in the city,” said CCPO.

He added the groups brandishing weapons have been given a clear message that carrying weapons in public to harass the public would not be tolerated.

“All the officers have been directed to facilitate citizens in provision of services about police and give them respect. We are improving Human Resource Management of Peshawar Police with regular performance evaluation of officers based on three benchmarks of integrity, competent and behaviour with public. A mechanism is being developed for the reward and punishment as well as transfer and postings based on the above three benchmarks,” Gandapur said.

The city police have recently carried out raids on the dens of the groups involved in blood feuds for long. The members of these groups carry automatic weapons publicly on the pretext of protecting themselves from the rivals. Some of them have been involved in land grabbing and other crimes after spreading terror in their areas.

“We have also launched a crackdown on the unregistered motorbikes. They have been given time to register their vehicles after which action will be taken against them,” Gandapur said.

According to the Peshawar Police, around 13,000 unregistered motorbikes have been checked during the recent days. Police believe most unregistered motorbikes are being used in street crimes and terrorism.

The CCPO added that the traffic system is being improved to end the road jams and ensure smooth flow of traffic. He added that traffic management is one of the top priorities of the police.

He added that police have been directed to go after those involved in festive firing during weddings and other functions.