Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender in PS Women Rawalpindi

   Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender in PS Women Rawalpindi

Introduction

Rawalpindi Police have taken a historical step by initiating a Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender in Women Police Station, Rawalpindi. It is the first Police Station in Pakistan. This Police Station was inaugurated by first lady Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto in 1994.

Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender (PKM & RCT) is the first one in the history of Pakistan and Punjab Police, which is established as the main point for facilitating all transgenders from the whole city.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018

The government of Pakistan passed an act “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018”. According to this law, the transgender community have all rights and privileges like the other citizens of Pakistan.

A Transgender person  is  the one who;

·         Whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the social norms and culture assigned to them at the time of their birth

·         mixture of male and female genital features or congenital ambiguities;

·         eunuch assigned male at birth, but undergoes genital excision or castration

       (Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018)

According to this law, eunuch has following rights;

·         Rights of self-perceived identity

·         Protection of fundamental rights like inheritance, education, employment, assembly, access to public spaces, vote, holding of public office and health,

·         Rights of inheriting property

·         Protection against sexual, physical, mental and psychological harassment

Background and Purpose of PKM & RCT, Rawalpindi

The transgender community consists of 500,000 or 207 million population identified as transgenders in Pakistan according to advocacy group Trans Action. However, the violation of fundamental rights and society’s negative attitude towards them is also increased. 

Many eunuchs were sexually harassed, murdered at a dance party and missing.

Police’ reaction was also not appropriate and in-time regarding the violation of intersex’s rights. For the execution of “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018”, Rawalpindi Police starts first PKM & RCT in the country’s first Women Police Station Rawalpindi.

Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender (PKM & RCT) is established to provide all Police related services with dignity and convenience to the transgenders under one roof.

This cell will ensure the safety and protection of transgenders’ fundamental rights. It is responsible to keep them safe from violence, harassment, gender discrimination, community and social negative attitude by securing their basic human rights.

Area Limitation

Transgender cell is independent and nobody from this cell can be mixed in female Police or come in the part of the area of the Women Police Station.

Staff

Nobody from male and female Police officers can deal with the community of transgenders in this centre. However, all staff consists of transgenders.

Police male and female computer operators will also be part of this staff at the initial stage. However, after getting training of operating computer, these operators may also be replaced by their community members.

Functions

Police Khidmat Markaz & Reporting Centre for Transgender (PKM & RCT) deal all criminal, Police and traffic related matters about transgenders and their whole community in district Rawalpindi. 

Similarly, all Police stations in Rawalpindi district will communicate to the community of transgenders via PKM & RCT Rawalpindi.

Some significant functions of transgender cell in PS Women, Rawalpindi are;

·         Crime reporting

·         Report of missing transgender

·         Issuing and renewing of driving license and traffic related services

·         Legal assistance

·         Copy of FIR

·         Character certificate

·         General Police verification

·         Reporting of lost documents

·         Tenant and employers’ registration        

 

Reaction of transgenders’ Community

Transgenders community is excited after the establishment of the facilitation centre in Rawalpindi. 

Ram Sharif is the first officer inducted in Rawalpindi Police as a victim support officer in PKM & RCT Rawalpindi. She is well qualified and activist to support transgenders’ community.

“She says, it is highly appreciating and encouraging for her, because she is working as the facilitator and representative of her community. This is not just a job, but a blessing and opportunity of becoming voice of transgenders”.

Ram Sharif expresses herself as;

She has a strong desire for setting up protection homes for transgender persons, because most of them are left by their families and forced to join Guru Chela system. In this system, they have to do dancing, begging and forced prostitutes or sex work for their survival.

Conclusion

PKM & RCT Rawalpindi is the start of offering legal and Police related services to the transgender community by accepting their self-perceived identity at the main stream level after introducing  “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018”.

              

                                                                                                                                                                     

How did Rawalpindi Police Regain Lost Status by providing Services?

       How did Rawalpindi Police Regain Lost Status by providing Services?

Police and public relations always remain in the spotlight by media in Pakistan. Not only social media, but also news channels report negatively about the Police. Unfortunately, at official and government level also, only weaknesses of Police are highlighted and strengths are undermined. However, this scenario seems to be changed during COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan and specifically in Rawalpindi by the services of Rawalpindi Police.

   CPO Rawalpindi took many initiatives to create a positive image of the Police like;

1.     distribution of grocery and food items at the doorstep of the masses,

2.      inviting students for the internship in the Police department,

3.      redressing the public complaints at the spot in "Khuli Kachery"

                            

At the departmental level, CPO Rawalpindi took multiple measures to ensure the welfare and well-being of the Rawalpindi Police and to boost their morale and spirit up. 

For this, CPO Rawalpindi;

1.     implemented strict discipline and accountability,

2.     renovation and refurbishment of Police buildings,

3.     better facilities of transportation to the Police force, 

4.     start of the mess in the Police stations,

5.      e-policing and establishment of  CRO, IT lab, installing tracker system for official motorcycles and vehicles at the same place

6.     campaign on social media to improve the image of police

7.     posting of SHOs on merit and without political influence

8.     beautification and refurbishment of  Rawalpindi Police Lines

9.     e-copy of Police Files

10.     video link meetings with Police officers in the Rawalpindi district

            

                   

   COVID-19 and Services of Rawalpindi Police

      After the outbreak of COVID-19 and during the lockdown, poor people and daily wages workers, rickshaw drivers and labour force related to the construction sector could not earn their bread and butter.  Rawalpindi Police collected Coronavirus funds from the members of the department and arranged grocery and food items for the poor and needy people. For this, the Rawalpindi Police distributed grocery through the areas SHOs at the doorstep of the masses, but maintain their self-respect by hiding their identity.

     Similarly, the Rawalpindi Police distributed grocery and gifts in the minorities at their religious festivals.

                                                                                                   

Duties at Quarantine Centers

The Rawalpindi Police seemed active and alert during their duties in quarantine centres and hospitals, for the security of medical officers and the common masses.

   

Prayers Duties according to SOP of COVID-19

Rawalpindi Police became an ideal example of dutifulness and alertness during Ramadan prayers in the mosques by ensuring fully compliance of the Standard operating procedures (SOP) of the government of Pakistan.

The President of Pakistan appreciated the Rawalpindi Police’s alertness and vigilance during his unscheduled and surprised visit in the mosques of Rawalpindi

Iftar and Dinner with junior Police Officers

    According to the direction of the CPO Rawalpindi, all senior officers participated in the iftar parties of the junior Police officers at their duty points like Police check posts and quarantine centres.

    Similarly, the CPO Rawalpindi arranged a dinner party with the junior Police officers of the minority group at their religious festival

 

Conclusion

Rawalpindi Police’s activeness, alertness and cautiousness have enhanced and increased in the command and control of CPO Rawalpindi. Similarly, their services delivery to the masses become effective and constructive even without enough economic resources. In fact, the spirt of alertness of the commander is demonstrated in the rank and file of the Rawalpindi Police.

Establishment and Background of Police System with Important Concepts of Policing

Establishment and Background of Police System with Important Concepts of Policing

Idea of Establishing Police System

Sir Robert Peel was considered the pioneer of establishing a police system in the world.  By using his experience in the military of Ireland, he established this organization for;

•      Military and civil control on society
•      To solve the tactical and political problem

The members of this organization were cheaper than a military force (army) and more responsive to the civil authorities. By considering this idea, London Metropolitan Police was established in 1829 as the first urban police organization.

Police System in Pakistan

Police system in Pakistan was inherited from the British India system under the act of 1861. The sole objective of this system was;

• To protect and enlarge the colonial rule in India
•  Keeping the public under strict control and scrutiny
• 
  

According to Dr Shoaib Suddle;

Police was nothing except a public frightening organization, not as a public-friendly agency.

Purpose of Police System

Police system was designed at the Irish Constabulary model and it placed police under the control of executive authority through the District Officer (City Police Officer, CPO, District Police Officer (DPO).

It is significant to mention here that Police Act of 1861 was the direct outcome of 1857 mutiny. Primary purpose was

•          To control the natives
•      To prevent the members of police organization from joining the mutineers (rebels) in future.

Word Police

•       Implies arrangements made to make civilized society
•       Means to ensure that the citizens maintain peace and obey the law
•      Denotes the force of peace officers or employed person for such purpose
•      Initially, the system of Police was organized to maintain peace, keep law and order and to control the public.

Democratic Policing

Basic responsibility of Police is the prevention of crimes and maintaining peace. But, this concept is changed now into democratic policing.

Democratic policing means serving the people of the nation, not its regime or government.

Characteristics of Democratic Policing

According to UNO International Police Task Force;

·         Police serves to protect people rather impede or hindrance in their freedoms and fundamental rights

·         Preservation of safe community

·         Application of criminal law equally without favouritism and fear

Community Policing

Partnership and problem solving are equal to community policing.

International Crisis Group summarizes the concepts of policing as;

•     Build positive relations with the community
•     Involving the community in crime control and prevention
•      Solving a problem with the cooperation of community
•      Get benefits from the society’s expertise and resources
•      All organization and agencies including government officials, social agencies, students and labours unions, business, and trading interests share the police’s responsibilities for solving the problems related to the social safety and security.

Community Policing at the Operational Level

·         Good customer service attitude,

·         New techniques to solve problems,

·         Removing a trust deficit among the population,

·         Improving the mandate of police,

·         Partnership of people,

·         Proactive kind of policing and helping the vulnerable,

·         Bond with the governmental agencies.

Requirements for developing community policing

·         Training of police and community,

·         Decentralization in the police system,

·         Establishment of community management teams and formation of medical reserve unit,

·         Devising crime preventive environmental strategy

Conclusion

Police is the backbone of keeping the civic the system in order and keeping peace by maintaining law and order.

Domestic and Departmental Challenges of Women Police in Pakistan

Domestic and Departmental Challenges of Women Police in Pakistan

According to the recent census, Punjab is the most populous province with around 48% female from the 120 million population. However, the total strength of Punjab Police is almost 205000 and only 4500 female Police officers are available, which is nothing than a drop in the bucket.

According to the ratio, there is only one female Police official for every 12,200 women in Punjab province. Although, a large number of female police officials are inducted in the department since 2014 with the 15% quota of the female. This situation raises many issues for in-service female Police officials, significant of them are mentioned here.

•       Female Police officials are less in number, only one or two female officials are posted in male Police Station. They have to work round the clock to perform their official duties.

•      All male Police stations don’t have female police officials, so they get duty from the Women Police Station in Rawalpindi district. However, the ladies officers are just drop in the ocean and their presence is necessary on all duty points.

•      Female Police officials have to look after their kids, doing domestic chores and managing their departmental duties, without having rest and time for keeping themselves fit and healthy.

•     Women Police Station in Rawalpindi district lacks all facilities necessary for performing official duties like the daycare centre, PS Vehicle, as well as, the poor condition of the building of PS Women. These issues create hindrance in performing their official duties and reaching in-time on duty points specifically during the lockdown periods due to COVID-19.

•       Mostly female officials try to skip from official responsibilities due to their domestic issues like minor kids, absence of transport facilities and the patriarchal nature of the society in the form of the poor relationship with their husbands.

•       Most of their in-laws' families always welcome finical assistance in the form of salaries, but refuse to co-operate with them at domestic level management, which is the base of family life

        For improving these poor working conditions and unfriendly environment, it is necessary that all the high officials must give them an ear and keep in view their departmental and domestic duties due to the so-called patriarchal nature of society. 

  Female Police officials should be facilitated with a comfortable and peaceful professional environment in the form of standard PS building, furniture and stationery, up to date PS vehicle and cooperative male staff.           

   After addressing these challenges, a soft, professional and healthy image of female police will be emerged, which is the need of the hour to build public confidence on the Punjab Police in Pakistan.

Image is taken from the given link;

https://www.google.com.pk/search?q=female+punjab+police+free+photo+f&rlz=1C2RLNS_enPK864PK864&sxsrf=ALeKk00owN0ko5GRBQe3xV8-lOm-spWDqw:1586059423427&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0pJrks9DoAhULXxoKHa0nDXIQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=KXREVExfNmYWGM

Do’s and Don’ts to Control CONVID-19 in Pakistan

Do’s and Don’ts to Control CONVID-19 in Pakistan

COVID-19 outbreaks in Pakistan and authorizes have confirmed four casualties due to this global pandemic. It is common in almost all pilgrims return from Iran and poorly managed quarantine set up at the Tafton border in Balochistan.

Almost 629 cases of COVID-19 are reported in Pakistan and fear of an alarming increase in this number is not out of question. In fact, it is estimated that this number may be multiplied because of the newly arrived pilgrims and patients from Iran and China.

The government of Pakistan is thinking of complete lockdown in the country. However, the Sindh and the Punjab Governments have already announced lockdown in their respective provinces and in 33 major cities of Pakistan.

Do’s to Control the Spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan

•   Wash your hands properly with soap. It means you need to lather with soap on the upper parts of your hands, inner parts of fingers and nails at least 20 seconds with the running and clean water. Significant method of self-hygiene is washing hands with water and soap.

        

•     Clean your hands with hand sanitizer if the water is not available. Only alcohol-based sanitizer of 70 degrees can be used for hands hygiene in the absence of water.
•      Wash your hands after every 20-30 minutes and especially if you come from outside. 

• Use disposable facemask to prevent the entry of virus in your mouth and nose. Make sure the mask must not be reused or used ones in a day. If you are not affected, no need to wear a mask until and unless you are in a crowd or gathering. Keep in mind, facemask can only prevent infecting you and others. It cannot be used as a remedy to get rid of this virus, rather it is an effective step to save yourself and others from this infection.

•       Take a balanced diet, regular sleep and do proper and regular exercise to strengthen the immune system of your body.

•      Try to avoid all sorts of gathering and crowdy places, if necessary use protective measures like covering face with disposable facemask, wearing gloves, keeping alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and covering your nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing.

Don’ts to Control the Spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan

•   Don’t drink too many hot beverages like coffee and tea to kill this virus. Extremely hot drinks may destroy the protective layers and preventive immune secretions.

•       Don’t contact people physically and pay your greeting verbally.

•     Don’t contact people physically and pay your greeting verbally.
•      Don’t simply wash the infected surface with water, rather clean the surface with detergent or bleach.

•    Don’t go to the crowdy place and stay at your home as much as you can.
•    Don’t mix in people and keep yourself in self-quarantine.
•     Don’t shake hands with other people only pay your greeting verbally.
•    Don’t touch your nose, lips, mouth and eyes until you take all measures of cleanliness.

•      Don’t eat raw and uncooked food like meat, eggs and vegetables.
•      Don’t contact with other people, if you have reached from an affected area till the two weeks.
•    All cases of coronavirus are not fatal and deadly. However, patients of diabetes, cancer, blood pressure and over-aged like 60-80 years are more likely to be affected because of their low body immune system.