ISLAMABAD: The police have constituted 80 `Muhafiz squads`, a ceremony for which was held on Thursday to sensitise personnel about their professional duties, police said.

The squads are to ensure the implementation of the Islamabad police strategy to check street crime, control vehicle theft and ensure a quick response in the event of a public complaint or an untoward situation.

The squads were constituted based on a strategy devised by Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) (SSP) Sajid Kiani to combat crime ef fectively, they said. The personnel from these squads must demonstrate professional attitude and maintain complete information on their areas in order to respond in time in case of any untoward incident.

Every squad will also keep records of stolen vehicles, they said.

At the ceremony, Mr Kiani said each squad will consists of peers who will patrol on two motorcycles. Each police officialwillpossessaweapon, ammunition and a wireless set while they perform duties at various beats in the city, he said, and halting points have been defined in the city according to the security plan to help reduce crime. He said expectations for the squads were very high.

Separately, the Islamabad Traf fic Police (ITP) have followed their operational codes and achieved their objectives, such as ensuring the equalapphcadon of the law and meeting the public`s expectations through hard work and commitment, SSP (Traffic) Malik Matloob Ahmed said while briefing new ITP personnel.

The newcomers to the traffic police force were briefed on their duties, including the implementation of traffic rules, driving licence procedures, VIP route duties and other tasks, the police said.

Mr Ahmed said the traffic police`s hard work had brought great success, and they would be facilitated through welfare measures, they said. He also called for cooperation and facilitation for those visiting the ITP offices for driving licences, saying discrimination in this regard would not be tolerated.

He said the ITP had an image as a force free from corruption, they said. He expressed the hope that the traffic police force would ensure safety on the roads of the capital and liaise with citizens to improve the traffic system.-Staff Reporter