Expressing concerns over the misuse of official dress, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan has asked Punjab Inspector General for Prisons Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig to forbid his officials from wearing the uniform of Punjab Elite Force without any lawful justification.
"It has been learnt with grave concern that some jail officials trained from the Elite Police Training School Lahore have reportedly started wearing the elite police uniform on various pretexts and have abandoned wearing the uniform prescribed for jail officers/officials under the Pakistan Prisons Rules 1978, without any lawful justification," reads a letter written to the IG Prisons by Arif Nawaz Khan.
The copy of the letter is available with this correspondent. According to the letter, the IGP has directed all the field formation officers of the police department that no one, who is not posted in the Elite Team, shall wear T-shirt bearing "No Fear" or "Black Trouser" and "T-Shirt" similar to that used by the Elite Police Force (EPF). The uniform of Quick Response Force (QRF) or any other unit shall be different from that of EPF and monogram of the EPF should immediately be removed from the vehicles not in use of EPF and repatriated to districts/ units.
Addressing the IG Prisons, the latter says: "You are, therefore, requested to ensure that none of the jail officer/ official under your command wears the uniform including cap, shirt, trousers, boots, belts, shoulder letters, shoulder badges, formation sign, or any other accouterment resembling to those worn by the Elite Police Force (EPS) in any case whatsoever, and such practice, if any, be called off forthwith and report be submitted to this Inspectorate within one week positively."
"In case of any disobedience/mutiny on the part of any jail officer/official(s), disciplinary proceedings shall forthwith be initiated against the delinquents and exemplary punishments will be awarded to such undisciplined elements. Criminal cases may be registered against superintendents of jails under relevant law on the charges of impersonation of Elite Police Force Uniform at the concerned police stations, wherever considered necessary," warns the letter, requesting to ensure zero tolerance and compliance of directions.
In January, the IGP, after the fake encounter of four people by the personnel of Counter-Terrorism Department in Sahiwal, had directed all divisional police chiefs and the deputy inspectors general of the CTD and Special Protection Unit (SPU) to remove the monogram of the Elite Police Force (EPF) from their vehicles. The vehicle used by the CTD personnel in the encounter was bearing the EPF monogram. The personnel were in black trousers and jackets.