ISLAMABAD: A new Airport Police Station has been set up after the areas around the New Islamabad International Airport were included in the administrative limits of the Rawalpindi district. A Station House Officer (SHO) has also been appointed.
According to the private newspaper report, for now, the police station is operating from a rented building on the Motorway Link Road. A permanent building will be constructed later after land is acquired near the Airport Road.
Earlier, the airport’s terminal, runway, and nearby areas fell under three different jurisdictions — Attock district, Rawalpindi district, and Islamabad Capital Territory. Legally, only the New Airport Police Station in Attock had jurisdiction over the airport.
Due to security reasons and the need for unified command, the government last year handed over full administrative control of the airport and its surroundings to the Rawalpindi district. As a result, the new police station was set up to ensure better law enforcement in the area.
The new Airport Police Station was formed by carving out parts of the jurisdiction of the Naseerabad Police Station, especially areas previously covered by its Hameedan police post.
Islamabad Gets First Woman SHO
In another significant development, for the first time in Islamabad’s history, a woman police officer has been appointed as SHO of a regular police station.
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Misbah Shahbaz has assumed charge as SHO of Phulgran Police Station. She joined the police force in 2012 as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and earlier served as the SHO of a women police station. Her appointment was made by DIG Islamabad, Jawad Tariq.
While women have previously served in women police stations in Islamabad, this is the first time a woman has been posted to lead a general police station.
DIG Jawad Tariq said this step is part of the Islamabad Police’s efforts to promote gender equality and provide women officers with equal opportunities. He added that more women will be appointed to important posts in the future, and all appointments will be made purely on merit.
Meanwhile, Kohsar Police arrested a key member of a gang involved in thefts at commercial markets in the capital.
According to the Islamabad Police spokesperson, the accused has been identified as Kamran Masih. Police also recovered stolen cash from him. Further investigation is underway.
