DPO restricts duties of volunteer force over 'complaints'.

Byline: Majeed Gill

BAHAWALPUR -- District Police Officer (DPO) Sohaib Ashraf has ordered to minimise the nature of duties of police Qaumi Razakars and reserve them for only emergency duties -- mainly maintenance of law and order -- to avoid unnecessary interference in police matters at police stations across the district.

The DPO made the decision to keep the volunteers away during police's actions aimed at curbing crime and nabbing criminals.

Dawn learnt that the DPO had received complaints that the Qaumi Razakars, clad in police uniform and deployed in police stations, were always aware of police movements and plans regarding actions and raids against criminals. In many cases, police circles claimed that these volunteers were suspected to have leaked confidential information and acted as informers for criminals due to which police raids had failed. This put the police force in an embarrassing situation and invited the wrath of their seniors.

Keeping in view these activities, the DPO decided to restrict their duties to emergencies and important events such as Muharram and other national and religious occasions for maintenance...