Dolphin Force to check street crimes: CM

Says all Muslim countries need to fight against terror

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that it was a day of augmenting the efforts of Punjab Police for lesser street crimes as it was a landmark in the policing history of the country. 

He said this while addressing the passing out parade of Dolphin Force on Thursday. Pointing to Dolphin Force, he said that the force would prove itself to be guardian and guide of public. They would prove themselves a courteous force by their character and helping the public.

The chief minister re-quoted the phrase of Turkish Ambassador ‘our grandfathers and mothers fought for war of independence of Turkey’ to express brotherly relations of both countries. He said that he wrote a letter to Turkish leadership to express solidarity against terrorists’ attacks in Turkey. He said that all the Muslim countries from Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur needed to fight against the menace of terrorism.

Inspector General of Police Punjab, Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera while addressing the first passing out ceremony of the first batch comprising of 688 officials held at Police Training School, Chuhng, Lahore said Dolphin Force was ready to chase the criminals at all roads, streets and congested areas of metropolitan Lahore with a spirit to make the lives and properties of Lahorites more secure and safe. With the launching of this force not only the street crimes will be controlled but also improve the consecutive patrolling and picketing system in Lahore.

Iranian, Chinese and Turkish Consulates, Home Minister, Rana Sanaullah, Provincial Minister Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, Zaeem Qadri, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, Home Secretary, Major (R) Azam Suleman, Secretary Information, Momin Agha, DCO Lahore, Capt (R) Muhammad Usman, other parliamentarians and senior police officers were also present on this occasion.

Mushtaq Sukhera said that all civilised nations kept on modifying their forces to control the network of the criminals. He said that the dolphin training had been completed into two phases within a period of 120 days with the cooperation of Turkish police instructors. He said that the first batch had been handed over 300 heavy motorbikes with 550 helmets; besides, all required accessories and gadgets. He said that a separate police line for the Dolphin Force in area of Walton would be completed very shortly and in all divisions independent dolphin force offices would be set up. According to dolphin force SOPs, a squad of two motorcycles having four officials will perform duty,  the IGP added.

Mushtaq Sukhera pinned the hope that the dolphin force would perform its duties just like dolphin which was considered to be a human friendly in the world. He thanked the Punjab government for its outstanding cooperation and trust in the Punjab police for launching such a unique and first ever patrolling force of the country.

Later, IGP presented a special souvenir to the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Speaking on the occasion, Turkish Ambassador Sadiq Babar Girgan said that Turkey and Pakistan were brotherly countries and their friendship expanded up to centuries. He said that grandparents of Pakistan played a great role in the war of independence of Turkey. Dolhpin Force is the manifestation of their brotherly relations. In Turkey, Dolphin Force was established in 1993 to fight street crime. It has been very helpful in fighting against crime in cities having narrow streets and heavy traffic like Istanbul. Terming Lahore Istanbul of Turkey having same heavy traffic and narrow streets, it would prove a success story here too. It is the same as the flags of both countries. He remembered and paid tribute to late Punjab Home Minister Col (R) Shuja Khanzada for his efforts and interest in establishment of the force. 

Dolphin Force is a project of the Punjab government for the establishment of a modern, well-equipped patrolling force to fight street crime with the cooperation of Turkish National Police. The Punjab Government has allocated Rs1.192 billion for the project. The project comprised of training of above 2,400 officials of Dolphin in three phases. Training of each badge comprised of 120 days and the training of first badge was completed on Thursday.

The officials of Dolphin Force have been imparted modern physical and mental training. They have been equipped with sophisticated weapons (berretta pistol and MP-5 riffles), heavy bikes (300) and special helmets with HD CCTV cameras and advanced communication facilities.

Four dolphin officials with a pair of bikes would patrol the streets of Lahore as a rapid response force to Police Rescue 15 calls. The force had been trained by master trainers of Turkish National Police.

Passing out parade ceremony comprised of two parts; first, demonstration of Defence and intervention techniques by officials of Doplhin Force and second, demonstration of Motorcycle Driving Skills and Flag Demonstration. In demonstration of defence and intervention techniques, the officials of Dolphin Force expressed their skills of combating and physical strength. They showed judo-karate, unarming combat- firearm disarming and knife disarming and stone-breaking and handling of the criminal and handcuffing him.    

In demo of Motorcycle Driving Skills & Flag Formations, the motorcyclist showed different stunts by using heavy bikes. The motorcyclists showed their control on bike by showing stunts on fast-moving vehicle. They showed the use of weapon while driving, taking positions and cover during driving. They also jumped from a lengthy, high-level, stand to show the ability of the motorcyclists in narrow streets, on bridges and footpaths. They also passed through iron-circles with fire.