HAFIZABAD-Being the eyes and ears of the society, the journalists must be responsible and transparent and should expose negative elements while desisting from creating uncertainty and sensation.
Hafizabad District Police Officer Haroon Joyia emphasised while talking to a delegation of senior journalists here on Tuesday. The district police officer stressed that the mediamen should refrain from publishing any news on hearsay and must confirm authenticity of every news item. He said that he has taken several steps to improve working of the police in the district and have appointed Admin Officer in every police station. These officers have been bound to be honest and polite besides registration of FIRs without any delay. He expressed the hope that this step would go a long way in changing the Thana culture to a great extent and revive the image of the police among the public. He, however, desired “third party audit” regarding the behaviour and working of the Admin Officer and requested the senior journalists to make such audit and apprise him of the improvement or otherwise within two weeks.
He said that despite shortage of police personnel, he is determined to minimise crime and criminals particularly cattle-lifters, drug-paddlers, land-grabbers and notorious outlaws. He said that to achieve better results, he has got detention orders for 30 notorious paddlers and law-breakers and have detained 18 for three months while the rest would be rounded up shortly.
He said that he is focusing on criminals, adding that cooperation and coordination of members of Awami Tehfuz Committee and notables is inevitable to curb to the crime.
He admitted that they should be accountable to public.
In the lighter vein, the DPO said that buildings of police stations in the district are very spacious but strength of COPs is quite nominal. He, however, said that strength of police stations would be increased within next two or three months for further improving the functioning of police stations.
He informed the journalists that since his appointment in the district about two months ago, 78 Proclaimed Offenders wanted in murder, dacoity, robbery and other heinous crimes have been nailed and accused involved in four blind murder cases have been arrested.
Moreover, 193 criminals wanted in different offences have been nabbed, 294 court deserters and 47 notorious criminals who were released from jail have been arrested to prevent their nefarious activities. Besides, seven Kalashnikovs, 13 rifles, 73 pistol, 9 carbines and 19 guns have been seized and the accused arrested. Moreover, crackdown on drug peddlers has been launched vigorously and so far 14,410 grams charas, 4,430 grams heroin, 1,110 grams opium, 1,225 litre liquor have been recovered while 13 working stills have been unearthed and 800 litre ‘lahn’ (raw liquor) has been taken into custody.