ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday urged Capital Police to ensure protection and justice for citizens and proactively maintain law and order in neighbourhoods and markets of the city.

Addressing police officers at Punjab House, he said police officers should either work with honesty and devotion or be prepared for transfer from Islamabad as he will not give any undue favour.

He said only those police officers will work in Islamabad who will perform.

The minister said law will be amended to discourage those who were working in Capital for years without performing.

Those who do not want to perform duties in Islamabad should inform their concerned officers as there is no room for personnel who are shirking responsibilities, he added.

He said he will be pleased when IG, SPs, DSPs and SHOs will proactively maintain law and order on pickets and roads.

Those who are fulfilling duties should be awarded and those who are not, should be penalized, he urged, adding all professional requirements of police would be met.

He stressed that patrolling of urban areas should be ensured in the first phase and police should respond to an incident within minutes and take steps to ensure sealing of Islamabad with barriers to nab criminals.

Station House Officers (SHOs) should come out of police stations, visit pickets and communities in their jurisdiction, he added.

The minister referred to "serious communication gap" between him and police officers and added it had been complained in the past that police was politicised but for about last two years, no direction was given from the Interior Ministry for anybody's posting, transfer or disciplinary action.

He said he was informed about the first Inspector General that he was close to PML-Q but he remained posted due to his professionalism.

"I challenge you that in the last two years there was no interference in your matters." he said adding Islamabad Police was given unprecedented freedom to work.

The minister narrated numerous criminal activities including firings in Kutchery and Jinnah Super Market and armed robbery outside Islamabad Club in which police showed slackness.

"I came to know about these incidents through media as SHOs and DSPs did not bother to take notice of these happenings."

"I only asked from you justice and protection of human rights of victims but there was not any change and improvement in the attitude of Islamabad police."

He said IG Police reported that there was 25 percent improvement but he wanted 80 percent progress in law and order.

He said according to his research, number of capital police is highest in the world in proportion to population of Islamabad.

He said action against terrorism and crime remained high priority of the government.

Chaudhry Nisar said 750 policemen will be recruited and more will be inducted in case of further need.

The minister said he wanted to spend Rs one billion on police but had to expend it on sit-ins of PTI and PAT.

He said case was framed against a former Inspector General and Superintendent of Police because they deserted their positions during the sit-ins.

"Now they are wrongly saying that they were asked to use force but protecting life and property of the citizens and government institutions is the legal obligation of police. These officers should tell who asked them to use force," he added.

He said beggars should be removed from the roads of Islamabad.

Inspector General of Police Tahir Alam Khan assured the minister that all his instructions would be followed.

APP