LAHROE, Pakistan: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Arif Nawaz Khan has banned the use of mobile phones by any police official below the rank of Station House Officer (SHO) in all police stations across the province.
However, it has been clarified by the Punjab Police that the ban on the use of mobile phones in police stations will only be applicable on police personnel, not on citizens or media representatives.
In a circular released on September 8, 2019 by the Operations Branch of the Central Police Officer in Punjab, it has been stated that the ban has been imposed by the IGP Punjab in the light of his own observations.
It has been stated that if from now onwards, any police man below the rank of SHO will be found using a mobile phone while being on duty, he/she will have to face a departmental inquiry.
آئی جی پنجاب نے یہ پابندی اپنے ذاتی مشاہدہ کی روشنی میں عائد کی ہے تاکہ دوران ڈیوٹی اہلکار بھرپور توجہ سے شہریوں کے مسائل حل کرنے پر توجہ دے سکیں۔ اس مراسلے کا اطلاق عام شہریوں یا میڈیا نمائندگان پر نہیں ہوتا۔ pic.twitter.com/oZCMbwB8Wv
— Punjab Police Official (@OFFICIALDPRPP) September 9, 2019
“The competent authority has observed that police officials are still using mobile phones while on duty. Clear directions in this regard have already been conveyed to all field formations. Passing down the instructions/directions is not the only responsibility of the field formations. It is them who have to get these instructions/directions/SOPs implemented in letter and spirits.
Frequent violations of these directions/SOPs reflect badly on the performance of supervising officers. In future, no officer bellow the rank of SHO or Incharge of a deployed duty will use cell phone while on duty. It is strictly forbidden to make a video of police officers on duty or upload a video of police officers performing their duty. And every violation will entail severe departmental action not only against the delinquent official but also against his supervisory officer,” the circular stated.
