Top cop takes charge amid spike in crimes

ISLAMABAD:

After several weeks and an alarming spike in street crime, Islamabad police finally got a new police chief at the Central Police Station.

Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, recently appointed Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad, officially assumed his post on Monday after his transfer from the Punjab government to the federal government three weeks ago.

When IG Rizvi took charge, he identified three major challenges faced by the Islamabad Police that are affecting their overall effectiveness. The first challenge highlighted was the increasing incidents of street crime, which posed a significant hurdle to law enforcement. He stressed the need to improve the efficiency of the patrol system rather than focusing solely on apprehending criminals.

The second challenge concerned secret networks involved in theft, robbery and street crime. IG Rizvi has introduced measures that allow investigators to arrest perpetrators and recover stolen items, providing assistance to citizens.

The third challenge involved solving more than 6,000 open cases and apprehending more than 4,000 proclaimed offenders involved in serious crimes. He emphasized on merit-based appointments to police duties, strengthened supervision of patrols and strict departmental action against misconduct.

IG Rizvi organized a meeting with police officers upon assuming office and set a seven-day deadline for performance improvement. He prioritized the welfare of the families of martyrs, ensuring their active participation in important events and providing education and scholarships for their children.

To address police concerns, the IG pledged to increase salaries and optimize resources for effective crime fighting and security measures. He established a special implementation committee, composed of senior officials, to oversee task execution in all divisions.

The new police chief emphasized visibility in the field and public service, announcing 24-hour operations at the F-6 service center, zero tolerance for corruption and the activation of specialized police units. He also outlined plans for training, performance monitoring, repatriation of offenders, traffic management campaigns and night patrol initiatives.

Under the leadership of the new IG, Islamabad Police face a huge challenge to prevent crimes at a time when the federal capital is already reeling from rising street crime.

In accordance with the directions of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Establishment Department dismissed Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Akbar Nisar Khan in December last year.

It is pertinent to mention here that the then DIG (Grade 20) Nasir was appointed as the top cop in the federal capital in May 2022 by the erstwhile coalition government led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

In October, the ECP had asked the Home Ministry to transfer the officers after several political parties filed complaints against them fearing that they could influence the outcome of the upcoming elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^e2024.