Humaira Motala
KARACHI: “Karachi East zone police is determined to build better image of force and serve public through major and transformative ways of modern policing. We are aiming to effectively use the technology to address grievances of affectees within short period of time such moves will enable police to build trust of people and will definitely offer out of box solution in this era of technology”, said DIG East Captain Ghulam Azfer Mahesar while meeting the delegation of Karachi Editors’ Club led by the President Mubasher Mir and General Secretary Syed Manzar Naqvi on Wednesday. The delegation also comprised Senior Journalists Humaira Motala, Mukhtar Ahmed and Iqbal Jamil.
Emphasizing the role of digital platforms, DIG said that technology played a crucial role in modernizing police department operations and that was the reason, East Zone has initiated digitally powered complaint centre through WhatsApp numbers. “We have used all social media platform like TikTok, Facebook; Instagram where clicking on the concerned post will directly transfer the complainant to WhatsApp number, where they can register their complaint. This would give wider access to public where they find concerned police stations non-friendly”, he explained.
He further said that along with the effective usage of technology, it was the need of the day that governments should invest in better infrastructure of police stations to facilitate complainants and they would feel comfortable to visit stations.
Underlining the importance and performance of the online hub where complaints are being pooled through WhatsApp number, DIG Azfer Mahesar said that the competent police officers would investigate the issue after registration and the take prompt action at earliest.
Citing such instance he mentioned that an on-line complaint of Pakistani residing in New York was recently received of a car theft, the car was parked in his father’s house in Karachi and after verification, the FIR has been lodged and the copy was being sent via e-mail to the complainant. “This initiative will restore the faith of the public and will provide speedy action, reducing operational cost”, he asserted. Our zone would be a role model for other districts and in near future the use of technology would be widely implemented.
Discussing the behavioural issues of SHOs and other police personnel, he said they were actively engage in training of police force to improve their public image and assure people-friendly police stations. “As a guiding tower for my team, I have opened my doors to all aggrieved parties and ensure my accessibility to resolves their issues; this would definitely have a trickle-down effect”.
While answering a question of senior editors on increasing street crimes and snatching, DIG East said that all police force launched a massive crackdown on illegal immigrants to curb the increasing crime rate and that would have a substantial affect in reducing crime rate. He opined that there was great need to create awareness among masses and build soft image of the force. All senior editors assured him of their cooperation and working in close coordination.