The Punjab Police have announced a major reorganization of their Internal Accountability Branch as part of efforts to strengthen the department’s internal accountability system and take tougher action against corruption.
The move has been taken in line with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with senior police officials discussing a new mechanism aimed at ensuring complaints against police officers are investigated more effectively.
Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem chaired a meeting on Saturday to review the proposed changes and discuss the future role of the Internal Accountability Branch.
Internal Accountability Branch to Get Central Role
Under the new arrangement, the Internal Accountability Branch will play a more central role in handling corruption-related complaints within the Punjab Police.
IGP Abdul Kareem said the branch would receive direct assistance from the Special Branch intelligence network. The additional intelligence support is expected to help authorities examine complaints and identify cases requiring further investigation.
The restructuring is intended to make the accountability process more centralized and reduce delays in dealing with complaints against police officials.
Senior Officers to Face Direct Review
The new system will introduce different levels of responsibility for handling complaints against police officers.
According to the plan, a Deputy Inspector General will review complaints against senior police officers on a daily basis.
At the regional level, Superintendents of Police will be responsible for conducting inquiries involving sub-inspectors and higher-ranking officials.
The arrangement is expected to create clearer responsibility for investigating complaints and ensure that cases are handled by designated senior officers.
Complaints Will No Longer Be Sent Back
One of the key changes discussed during the meeting is that inquiries will no longer be routinely sent to the respective districts and regions.
The decision is aimed at creating a more centralized accountability mechanism and preventing complaints from being handled within the same local structures where the allegations may have originated.
By keeping inquiries under designated accountability officials, the police leadership expects the new system to provide greater oversight over investigations involving its own personnel.
Previously Closed Complaints to Be Reopened
The IGP also directed officials to reopen complaints that had previously been disposed of without proper follow-up.
The decision could bring renewed attention to cases where complainants believe their concerns were not adequately investigated or where further action was required.
Officials will now be expected to review such complaints and determine whether additional investigation or action is necessary.
Investigation Complaints to Be Assigned at SP Level
The meeting also focused on complaints related specifically to police investigations.
Under the revised arrangement, investigation-related complaints will be assigned at the Superintendent of Police level for further action.
The move is intended to ensure that complaints concerning investigations receive attention from senior officers rather than being delayed or passed between different administrative levels.
The Punjab Police leadership has indicated that the revised accountability structure will focus on improving oversight, strengthening internal checks and ensuring complaints receive appropriate follow-up.
Focus on Stronger Police Accountability
The reorganization of the Internal Accountability Branch represents an effort to establish a more centralized system for addressing allegations of misconduct and corruption within the police department.
The involvement of Special Branch intelligence, daily review of complaints against senior officers and greater responsibility for SP-level officials are expected to form key parts of the new mechanism.
The decision also places greater emphasis on revisiting complaints that were previously closed without sufficient follow-up.
With the new arrangement, Punjab Police aims to make its internal accountability process more structured and responsive while ensuring that complaints against police officials are examined at the appropriate level.
The effectiveness of the new system will ultimately depend on how consistently complaints are investigated and whether the revised procedures lead to timely and transparent action.
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