Elite Police

Elite Police Force, Punjab
Elite Police Insignia
Active1998 - present
CountryPakistan Pakistan
BranchPunjab Police (Pakistan)
TypeSpecial Forces/Police Tactical Unit
RoleSpecial Operations Force
Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Nickname(s)Elite Police Force (EPF)
Motto(s)Allahu Akbar
Engagements2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team
Lahore police academy attack
Commanders
Ceremonial commanderChief Minister Punjab

The Elite Police (Urdu: اشرافیہ پولیس), also known as the "Elite Police Force" or "Police Commandos",[1][2][3] is a branch of the Punjab Police specializing in counter-terrorist operations and VIP security duties, as well as acting against serious crime and performing high-risk operations which can't be carried out by the regular police. It was formed in 1998 as a counterterrorism unit, but over time its duties expanded to VIP escort.

History

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The Elite Force was created on the order of the then Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in 1997–1998.[4] In 2004, more funds were allocated for its expansion, and 5000 new personnel were inducted. New checkpoints for curbing street crime were created across Punjab and manned by the Elite Force.[5] Their work drew attention in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The Elite Police were also extensively involved in neutralizing enemy combatants who had laid siege to the Manawan Police Training School during the 2009 Lahore police academy attacks.

Mumtaz Qadri, the bodyguard who shot and killed Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in Islamabad on January 4, 2011 was a member of the Elite Police.[6]

On August 12, 2017 a twelve year old boy was crushed to death by Elite Force Vehicle accompanying Mr. Nawaz Sharif (ex-prime minister). None of the vehicles including rescue vehicles or the vehicle responsible stopped or took the boy to the hospital. Family of the victim was also pressurized later to omit vehicle registration number from first information report to police.[7]

Organization

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The Elite Police Force is headed by the Additional Inspector-General of Police, Elite Police Force, Punjab, Lahore. Currently, Kunwar Shahrukh, Additional Inspector-General of Police is leading Elite Police Police Force in Punjab.[8] During operations, they are headed by an officer trained in a "Basic Elite" course.[9]

The Elite Force is used in a range of special operations including "high-risk searches, raids and rescue operations".[10] Members of the Elite Force are trained for six months at the Elite Police Training School (EPTS) at Badian, Lahore, by Pakistan's Special police trainers in personal combat, martial arts, crowd control, close quarters battle (CQB), and reconnaissance. They are trained in the use of a range of weapons, including the AK-47, Glock Pistol, MP5, and grenades. They can use different kind of weapons like Pakistan-made G3, machine-guns etc. Their arsenal also included flak jackets. They are trained in martial arts and boxing practice during training period.[9][citation needed] They are often seen in black and green track suits.[11]

Equipment

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And other protective gears.

Head of Organization

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The highest rank in the Elite Police is the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police.[12] The following is the list of the Additional Inspector Generals of Police who have headed this unit.

No. Name of Officer From To
1 Javed Noor, PSP 12-02-2007 07-05-2007
2 Tariq Saleem Dogar, PSP 07-05-2007 09-05-2008
3 Kalb-i-Abbas, PSP 08-03-2010 05-11-2011
4 Muhammad Tahir, PSP 10-06-2015 20-10-2015
5 Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM 23-02-2018 04-08-2018
6 Shahid Hanif, PSP PPM 29-10-2018 16-04-2020
7 Muhammad Farooq Mazhar, PSP 16-04-2020 25-03-2021
8 Kunwar Shahrukh, PSP 06-12-2021 27-12-2022
9 DR Muhammad Waqar Abbasi, PSP 21-08-2023 Till date

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "India condemns police academy attack". Dawn.com. 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  2. ^ "How Pakistan academy attack started". BBC. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka cricket team attacked". Yahoo news. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  4. ^ "Elite Force". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  5. ^ "Punjab earmarks more funds for Elite Force". 2004-03-13. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  6. ^ "Salman Taseer gunned down in Islamabad". The Nation. Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. January 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "Boy crushed to death by Elite Force vehicle in Nawaz Sharif's convoy - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2017-08-11. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  8. ^ "Elite Police | Punjab Police". punjabpolice.gov.pk. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  9. ^ a b "Gujrat Police official website, Standard Operating Procedures" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  10. ^ Punjab Police, Elite Force Official website Archived 2009-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 17 March 2009
  11. ^ "Sri Lanka cricket team attacked". Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  12. ^ "Elite Police". Punjab Police Official Website.
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