Islamabad police launch helpline to prevent misuse of power by cops

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police have launched a special helpline and set up a dedicated desk allowing the public to lodge complaints against officers.
Rolled out on Sunday, the toll-free line (1715) aims at preventing misuse of police powers.
“We have launched this helpline to ensure internal accountability of the police force and resolve genuine public complaints against the cops instantly,” Zia-ul-Qamar, a public relations officer of Islamabad Police, told Arab News on Monday.
“This mechanism will help make officials more responsive and active toward public grievances,” he said. “A formal inquiry will be held in case of any complaint against an officer or a cop, and punitive actions will be ensured.”
He added that since Sunday, the line has already received some 20 complaints, mainly over delayed registration of police reports and slow investigation into certain cases.
“We haven’t received any complaint regarding corruption of police officials so far,” Qamar said.
He denied linking the establishment of the helpline with any rise in complaints against officers.
“The sole purpose of the helpline is to facilitate people in getting their complaints heard at the highest level,” he said.
The process of filing a complaint starts from a dedicated desk at which helpline officers are available round the clock to register all grievances. Officers on duty would collect the caller’s data, including their mobile phone number, and refer the complaint to supervisory officers who within six to 24 hours would update the caller on their complaint status.
Complaints related to the registration of police reports or investigation, Qamar said, would be resolved instantly.