Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Police smashed 1,780 gangs consisting of 7,675 members, caught 46,336 proclaimed offenders and 32,183 absconders, and seized 52,521 illegal weapons and stolen goods worth Rs 918 million in 2005, under Inspector General (IG) Ziaul Hassan Khan’s leadership, a spokesman said.

The IG introduced radical reforms in the department to improve efficiency and equip police with latest technology, including computerisation of all police station records and a separate cyber-crimes wing being set up.

Closed-circuit cameras were installed in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad and will soon be installed in other major cities including Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur and Sargodha.

Police check posts have been set up at all entry and exit points of Punjab and equipped with mobile scanners to prevent smuggling of illicit arms into and stolen vehicles out of the province.

Computerised Rescue 15 centres have been set up in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad and response time has been decreased to five to seven minutes. Community Policing has been introduced in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad and is in initial stages.

A comprehensive training programme has been developed on scientific lines to enhance policemen’s professional capabilities.

A crackdown is being carried out against religious extremists on President Pervez Musharraf’s directives, in which several notorious terrorists and sectarian activists have been arrested and hate literature seized.

About 190 highway police patrolling posts have been set up on Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s directives to combat highway crime.

Several steps have been taken for police’s welfare including introduction of double shift system in Faisalabad and Lahore.

The IGP has been allowed by the chief minister to reorganise traffic police on the pattern of Motorway Police.